TELOMERASE EXPRESSION IN NORMAL ENDOMETRIUM, ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA,AND ENDOMETRIAL ADENOCARCINOMA

Telomerase activity has been detected in a broad range of human cancer s and its expression could be an important step in turner progression. Here, telomerase activity by the telomeric repeat amplification proto col in cases of benign endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and endom etrial adenocarcinoma was tested. Telomerase expression was detected i n 13 of 14 cases of proliferative phase endometrium, in 7 of 12 cases of secretory phase endometrium, but was not detected in any of 7 cases of atrophic endometrium. Three of three cases with evidence of luteal phase defect and one of four cases of chronic endometritis also expre ssed telomerase activity. Hyper plastic endometrium was positive for t elomerase in 13 of 17 cases. Telomerase activity was detected in 40 of 48 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma, which included 36 of 43 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma and four of five cases of papillary se rous carcinoma. The detection of telomerase in endometrial adenocarcin oma was not associated with either architectural grade, myometrial inv asion, or stage. There was statistically significant association, howe ver, between telomerase activity in benign atrophic endometrium versus any endometrial abnormality in women 52 years of age or older.