DETECTION OF TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN ORAL LESIONS

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex intimately associated with c ell immortalization and neoplastic transformation. In almost all types of cancer this enzyme is reactivated and stabilizes telomere length. It may be necessary for continuous cell proliferation. In this study w e used a non-radioactive polymerase chain reaction assay to analyze te lomerase activity in various tissue specimens taken from the oral cavi ty. Four of 4 (100%) squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, 28 of 29 (96% ) malignant tumors, 10 of 28 (36%) benign lesions, and none of the 14 (0%) oral control tissues possessed telomerase activity. Moreover, 4 o f 15 (27%) oral rinses and 3 of 3 (100%) samples of ascites and pleura l effusion taken from patients with oral malignancy were telomerase po sitive. These findings indicate that the evaluation of telomerase acti vity in tissue and body fluid specimens may provide information useful in the diagnosis of oral malignancy.