MICROSATELLITE ANALYSIS AND TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN ARCHIVED TISSUE AND URINE SAMPLES OF BLADDER-CANCER PATIENTS

We performed microsatellite analysis and tested telomerase activity in paired tissue and urine of bladder cancer patients from frozen archiv ed samples. DNA obtained from microdissected tumor and urine sediment was analyzed and compared to peripheral lymphocytes for microsatellite alterations (loss of heterozygosity [LOH] or instability) using a pan el of 20 microsatellite markers in 15 patients with transitional or sq uamous cell carcinoma of the urinary tract, Additionally, telomerase a ctivity was determined in 12 microdissected tumor specimens and corres ponding frozen urine pellets, Tumor cell DNA was detected by microsate llite analysis (LOH or shift) in at least one marker in 14/15 microdis sected tumor specimens and in 13/15 DNA samples obtained from urine se diments, Telomerase activity was present in 11/12 tumor samples but co uld not be detected in any of the corresponding urine sediments, Froze n archived urine samples are useful for retrospective studies utilizin g microsatellite analysis or other PCR-based approaches after DNA extr action, However, the evaluation of telomerase protein activity in stor ed urine samples appears to be unsuitable. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.