BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity (TA) is believed to play a role in the regulation of senescence and to limit the number of cell divisions. The deregulation of telomerase appears to contribute to oncogenesis and the formation of immortal cell lines. As a result, it is believed that it could be used as a prognostic marker in melanoma. METHODS: TA was assayed by the polymerase chain reaction PCR-ELISA-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP assay). One hundred and eight samples were distributed in four histological groups: 30 samples from primary cutaneous melanomas, 24 from peritumoural skin sites, 28 from benign melanocytic lesions, and 26 from normal skin sites as a control. RESULTS: TA was different among the four tested groups (Kruskall-Wallis test p<0.001), and increasing values of TA were observed progressing from normal skin to benign and then to malignant lesions. Among melanoma samples, there was a significant association between TA and ulceration (p=0.025), TA and vascular invasion (p=0.018) and TA and mitotic rate (p=0.029) (Mann-Whitney test). A linear regression analysis showed significant associations between the increase of TA with Breslow thickness (p=0.004) and the presence of satellites (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that TA had increased from control skin to peritumoural skin, and then to benign melanocytic lesions and finally to melanoma, suggesting tumour progression. TA showed higher values in the presence of some important histopathologic parameters related to poor prognosis in cutaneous melanoma such as ulceration, vascular invasion, satellites, high rates of mitosis, and in thicker tumours.
BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity (TA) is believed to play a role in the regulation of senescence and to limit the number of cell divisions. The deregulation of telomerase appears to contribute to oncogenesis and the formation of immortal cell lines. As a result, it is believed that it could be used as a prognostic marker in melanoma. METHODS: TA was assayed by the polymerase chain reaction PCR-ELISA-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP assay). One hundred and eight samples were distributed in four histological groups: 30 samples from primary cutaneous melanomas, 24 from peritumoural skin sites, 28 from benign melanocytic lesions, and 26 from normal skin sites as a control. RESULTS: TA was different among the four tested groups (Kruskall-Wallis test p<0.001), and increasing values of TA were observed progressing from normal skin to benign and then to malignant lesions. Among melanoma samples, there was a significant association between TA and ulceration (p=0.025), TA and vascular invasion (p=0.018) and TA and mitotic rate (p=0.029) (Mann-Whitney test). A linear regression analysis showed significant associations between the increase of TA with Breslow thickness (p=0.004) and the presence of satellites (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that TA had increased from control skin to peritumoural skin, and then to benign melanocytic lesions and finally to melanoma, suggesting tumour progression. TA showed higher values in the presence of some important histopathologic parameters related to poor prognosis in cutaneous melanoma such as ulceration, vascular invasion, satellites, high rates of mitosis, and in thicker tumours.
Authors: D C Gibbs; S V Ward; I Orlow; G Cadby; P A Kanetsky; L Luo; K J Busam; A Kricker; B K Armstrong; A E Cust; H Anton-Culver; R P Gallagher; R Zanetti; S Rosso; L Sacchetto; D W Ollila; C B Begg; M Berwick; N E Thomas Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2017-10-06 Impact factor: 9.302
Authors: João Vinagre; Vasco Pinto; Ricardo Celestino; Marta Reis; Helena Pópulo; Paula Boaventura; Miguel Melo; Telmo Catarino; Jorge Lima; José Manuel Lopes; Valdemar Máximo; Manuel Sobrinho-Simões; Paula Soares Journal: Virchows Arch Date: 2014-07-22 Impact factor: 4.064
Authors: Julia K Soo; Alastair D Mackenzie Ross; David M Kallenberg; Carla Milagre; W Heung Chong; Jade Chow; Lucy Hill; Stacey Hoare; Rebecca S Collinson; Mehnaz Hossain; W Nicol Keith; Richard Marais; Dorothy C Bennett Journal: Pigment Cell Melanoma Res Date: 2011-04-20 Impact factor: 4.693
Authors: S V Ward; D C Gibbs; I Orlow; N E Thomas; P A Kanetsky; L Luo; A E Cust; H Anton-Culver; S B Gruber; R P Gallagher; S Rosso; R Zanetti; T Dwyer; C B Begg; M Berwick Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2020-02-19 Impact factor: 9.302