BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity is up-regulated in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Nm23-H2 has been shown to promote the expression of the c-myc gene, a candidate transcriptional activator of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between nm23-H2 expression and telomerase activity in HCCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomerase activity and nm23-H2 protein expression in 24 HCCs were analyzed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: The incidence of positive telomerase activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues (18 out of 24 vs. 7 out of 24, p = 0.0015), and nm23 -H2 protein was more abundantly expressed in tumors than in corresponding normal liver tissues. Tumor nm23-H2 immunoreactivity was associated positively with tumor telomerase activity (p = 0.0037). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that tumor nm23-H2 expression might be associated positively with telomerase activity in HCC and suggest the value of tumor nm23-H2 linked to telomerase activity as a therapeutic target for HCC.
BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity is up-regulated in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Nm23-H2 has been shown to promote the expression of the c-myc gene, a candidate transcriptional activator of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between nm23-H2 expression and telomerase activity in HCCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomerase activity and nm23-H2 protein expression in 24 HCCs were analyzed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: The incidence of positive telomerase activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues (18 out of 24 vs. 7 out of 24, p = 0.0015), and nm23 -H2 protein was more abundantly expressed in tumors than in corresponding normal liver tissues. Tumornm23-H2 immunoreactivity was associated positively with tumor telomerase activity (p = 0.0037). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that tumornm23-H2 expression might be associated positively with telomerase activity in HCC and suggest the value of tumornm23-H2 linked to telomerase activity as a therapeutic target for HCC.
Authors: Gavin J Gordon; Graham N Rockwell; Roderick V Jensen; James G Rheinwald; Jonathan N Glickman; Joshua P Aronson; Brian J Pottorf; Matthew D Nitz; William G Richards; David J Sugarbaker; Raphael Bueno Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 4.307