Human Telomerase Gene Amplification and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women with Cervical Intra-Epithelial Neoplasia

• Published in: Journal of international medical research 2009-09, Vol.37 (5), p.1588-1595
• Main Authors: Takač, I, Arko, D, Kodrič, T, Poljak, M, Zagorac, A, Erjavec-Škerget, A, Kokalj-Vokač, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - genetics; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - pathology; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - virology; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Gene Amplification; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomaviridae - pathogenicity; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Telomerase - genetics; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - genetics; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/147323000903700537

This study was designed to investigate whether a correlation exists between amplification of the human telomerase gene (human telomerase RNA component [TERC]) and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection in 101 women with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Eight patients (7.9%) had CIN 1, 24 (23.8%) had CIN 2 and 69 (68.3%) had CIN 3. TERC was amplified in 31.7% of all CIN patients. The difference in frequency of TERC amplification between patients with low-grade CIN (CIN 1) and those with high-grade CIN (CIN 2 and CIN 3) was not significant. HR-HPV infection was detected in 88.1% of all CIN cases and was significantly more frequent in patients with CIN 2 and CIN 3 than in patients with CIN 1. There was no significant difference in the frequency of HR-HPV infection between groups of patients with and without TERC amplification. In conclusion, this study found no correlation between TERC amplification and HR-HPV infection in patients with CIN.