B de Unamuno Bustos1, A Sahuquillo Torralba1, P Moles Poveda1, G Pérez Simó2, J Simarro Farinos2, M Llavador Ros3, S Palanca Suela4, R Botella Estrada1. 1. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. 2. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. 3. Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. 4. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España. Electronic address: palanca_sar@gva.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Telomerase is an enzyme involved in maintaining the length of telomeres and cell senescence. Numerous studies have shown that in more than 90% of malignant tumors telomerase activity is detected. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study in a series of 85 cases of primary melanomas, 12 metastatic melanomas, and 22 melanocytic nevi. We used the monoclonal antibody hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase, Rockland) to assess telomerase activity. The SPSS software package was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Telomerase expression was present in all the melanocytic neoplasms analyzed. Expression was heterogenous and moderate or high in the melanomas. In contrast, expression was homogeneous and lower in the nevi. Heterogeneous expression was associated with rapid melanoma growth (P=.028), a Breslow thickness of more than 4 mm (P=.004), mitosis (P=.032), and mutations in the TERT gene (P=.002). Activity was less intense in intradermal nevi, and more intense in compound and dysplastic nevi (P=.054). CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase expression is found in all melanocytic neoplasms but is higher in melanomas than in nevi. A heterogeneous pattern of expression in melanomas is associated with more aggressive tumors.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Telomerase is an enzyme involved in maintaining the length of telomeres and cell senescence. Numerous studies have shown that in more than 90% of malignant tumors telomerase activity is detected. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study in a series of 85 cases of primary melanomas, 12 metastatic melanomas, and 22 melanocytic nevi. We used the monoclonal antibody hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase, Rockland) to assess telomerase activity. The SPSS software package was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Telomerase expression was present in all the melanocytic neoplasms analyzed. Expression was heterogenous and moderate or high in the melanomas. In contrast, expression was homogeneous and lower in the nevi. Heterogeneous expression was associated with rapid melanoma growth (P=.028), a Breslow thickness of more than 4 mm (P=.004), mitosis (P=.032), and mutations in the TERT gene (P=.002). Activity was less intense in intradermal nevi, and more intense in compound and dysplastic nevi (P=.054). CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase expression is found in all melanocytic neoplasms but is higher in melanomas than in nevi. A heterogeneous pattern of expression in melanomas is associated with more aggressive tumors.
Authors: Sara Moreno; Oscar Maiques; Carla Barcelo; Marta Romero; Maria Santacana; Ignacio Gómez; Dolors Cuevas; Ana Velasco; Alvar Vea; Anna Macia; Ramon Boix; Joan Valls; Sonia Gatius; Carles Canti; Xavier Matias-Guiu; Xavier Soria; Rosa M Marti Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2021-11-24 Impact factor: 3.875