TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN LUNG-CANCER CELL-LINES AND TISSUES

Using TRAP assay, we studied the activity of the telomerase in the lun g cancer cell lines, and lung cancer and normal tissues in which expre ssion appears to be related to the immortality of cancer cells. All th e human lung cancer cell lines and the majority of human lung cancer t issues (78%) expressed telomerase activity, but this was undetectable in normal human lung tissues. Positivity for telomerase activity in lu ng cancer cell lines was higher than in lung cancer tissues this resul t implies the expression of telomerase activity may play a crucial rol e in the development or progression of lung cancer, and also suggests that improved method of detection may lead to the higher positivity fo r telomerase activity in primary lung cancer tissues. To determine whe ther there is a definite causal relationship between telomerase and ca ncer, and to develop new anti-cancer agents which inhibit telomerase, further study is needed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.