Telomerase activity in benign and malignant cytologic fluids

• Published in: Cancer 1999-04, Vol.87 (2), p.93-99
• Main Authors: Mu, Xiao C., Brien, Thomas P., Ross, Jeffrey S., Lowry, Charles V., McKenna, Barbara J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ascitic Fluid - cytology; Ascitic Fluid - enzymology; Ascitic Fluid - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; cancer; Cytodiagnosis - methods; Cytological Techniques; cytology; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Technology; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Peritoneal Lavage; Pleural Effusion - cytology; Pleural Effusion - enzymology; Pleural Effusion - pathology; polymerase chain reaction; Staining and Labeling; telomerase; Telomerase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19990425)87:2<93::AID-CNCR9>3.0.CO;2-J

BACKGROUND Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that maintains telomeric base pair repeats at the ends of mammalian chromosomes during DNA replication. Telomerase is expressed in various human tumors, some normal tissues, and immortalized cell lines. The assay of telomerase activity has potential as an adjunct for cancer detection in cytologic fluids. METHODS Twenty‐four unfixed cytologic fluids, including 13 ascitic fluids, 7 pleural fluids, 3 pelvic washings, and 1 bronchial washing, were prepared for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)−based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (Oncor, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD). Telomerase activity was determined by PCR. The presence of a ladder of products with 6 base pair increments, separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by phosphoimaging, was considered a positive result. Results were compared with cytologic evaluation of alcohol fixed, Papanicolaou stained smears. RESULTS Of the 14 cytologically malignant specimens, 11 (79%) contained detectable telomerase activity. Two cytologically malignant samples could not be evaluated for telomerase activity due to the presence of inhibitory substances of PCR reaction. Of the 10 cytologically negative specimens, 1 (10%) was positive for telomerase activity; this specimen was from a patient with history of both endometrial and lung carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS Telomerase activity can be detected in malignant cytologic specimens and thus has potential as a diagnostic adjunct in cytopathology. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1999;87:93–9. © 1999 American Cancer Society. Telomerase activity can be detected in most malignant fluid specimens but is absent in most benign fluids; thus, it shows potential as a diagnostic adjunct in fluid cytopathology.