PROLIFERATION-ASSOCIATED REGULATION OF TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPLICATION IN EARLY CANCER-DIAGNOSIS

Telomerase activity was detected in normal endometrium in association with proliferation and regulated during the menstrual cycle in a hormo ne-dependent manner. The activity was maximal at the late-proliferativ e phase to mid-secreting phase, and was absent or extremely low at ear ly-proliferative phase and late-secreting phase. Activity was also det ected in all endometrial simple hyperplasias tested (16 of 16) and in most cancers (25 of 30), but none was detected in endometrial of eithe r pregnant or postmenopausal women ill the absence of hyperplasia. Our data provide evidence that the telomerase activity in postmenopausal endometrium reflects a hyperproliferative condition. Therefore, we con clude that telomerase can provide a novel marker for early endometrial cancer diagnosis. Hormone-dependent regulation of telomerase suggests the possibility of therapeutic and preventive strategies for endometr ial cancers through the management of ovarian steroid hormones or othe r agents that regulate telomerase activity. (C) 1997 Academic Press.