INCREASED TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCELLULAR CARCINOMAS INDUCED BY N-NITROSOBIS(2-OXOPROPYL)AMINE IN HAMSTERS

Telomerase activities in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas induced by N -nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in female hamsters were determine d using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay followe d by densitometric quantification. Each determination was repeated to confirm the results and telomerase activity was also detected by gel e lectrophoresis. An increase was evident in all of 10 cholangiocarcinom as examined, with levels ranging from 2.48 to 4.40 times the normal li ver value by densitometric quantification. This finding of a consisten t increase suggests that telomerase activation is involved in the deve lopment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and immortalization of can cer cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.