BACKGROUND: Telomerase activation is thought to be essential for the immortality of cancer cells. We measured telomerase activity in human liver samples, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluated this assay as a tool for the diagnosis of HCC using 21-gauge (21-G)-needle biopsy specimens. METHODS: Ninety-four liver samples (27 HCC, 27 liver cirrhosis, 37 chronic hepatitis, and 3 normal liver) that were surgically resected or biopsied with a 12-gauge Silverman needle and 13 HCC samples that were biopsied with a 21-G needle were analyzed for telomerase activation. RESULTS: Eleven of 29 (38%) tumor-bearing liver samples were weakly telomerase-positive, whereas telomerase activity was observed infrequently in nontumor-bearing liver samples (6 of 35; 17%) and in normal liver samples (0 of 3; 0%). The positivity of surgical samples for well differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated HCC was 88% (7 of 8), 87% (13 of 15), and 0% (0 of 2), respectively. In telomerase-positive HCC, 43% (3 of 7) of well differentiated samples were weakly positive, whereas 92% (12 of 13) of moderately differentiated samples were strongly positive. The difference in the tumor sizes and viral marker status did not affect the activity. The telomerase activity of the 21-G-needle biopsied specimens showed no significant difference from that of the surgical samples. The positive incidence of 21-G specimens was 80% (8 of 10) and 100% (2 of 2) in well differentiated HCC and moderately differentiated HCC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An incremental positivity of telomerase was observed during hepatocarcinogenesis. The use of this assay in 21-G-needle biopsy specimens may be useful in clinical examination.
BACKGROUND: Telomerase activation is thought to be essential for the immortality of cancer cells. We measured telomerase activity in human liver samples, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluated this assay as a tool for the diagnosis of HCC using 21-gauge (21-G)-needle biopsy specimens. METHODS: Ninety-four liver samples (27 HCC, 27 liver cirrhosis, 37 chronic hepatitis, and 3 normal liver) that were surgically resected or biopsied with a 12-gauge Silverman needle and 13 HCC samples that were biopsied with a 21-G needle were analyzed for telomerase activation. RESULTS: Eleven of 29 (38%) tumor-bearing liver samples were weakly telomerase-positive, whereas telomerase activity was observed infrequently in nontumor-bearing liver samples (6 of 35; 17%) and in normal liver samples (0 of 3; 0%). The positivity of surgical samples for well differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated HCC was 88% (7 of 8), 87% (13 of 15), and 0% (0 of 2), respectively. In telomerase-positive HCC, 43% (3 of 7) of well differentiated samples were weakly positive, whereas 92% (12 of 13) of moderately differentiated samples were strongly positive. The difference in the tumor sizes and viral marker status did not affect the activity. The telomerase activity of the 21-G-needle biopsied specimens showed no significant difference from that of the surgical samples. The positive incidence of 21-G specimens was 80% (8 of 10) and 100% (2 of 2) in well differentiated HCC and moderately differentiated HCC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An incremental positivity of telomerase was observed during hepatocarcinogenesis. The use of this assay in 21-G-needle biopsy specimens may be useful in clinical examination.
Authors: E Hiyama; H Yamaoka; T Matsunaga; Y Hayashi; H Ando; S Suita; H Horie; M Kaneko; F Sasaki; K Hashizume; A Nakagawara; N Ohnuma; T Yokoyama Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2004-08-31 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: N Toshikuni; K Nouso; T Higashi; H Nakatsukasa; T Onishi; T Kaneyoshi; Y Kobayashi; K Kariyama; K Yamamoto; T Tsuji Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2000-02 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Francesca Pezzuto; Luigi Buonaguro; Franco M Buonaguro; Maria Lina Tornesello Journal: Infect Agent Cancer Date: 2017-05-19 Impact factor: 2.965