Telomerase activity in non-small cell lung carcinomas correlates with smoking status

Citation
G. Xinarianos et al., Telomerase activity in non-small cell lung carcinomas correlates with smoking status, INT J ONCOL, 15(5), 1999, pp. 961-965
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
10196439 → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
5
Year of publication
1999
Pages
961 - 965
Database
ISI
SICI code
1019-6439(199911)15:5<961:TAINCL>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Human telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein DNA polymerase which maintains the telomeric region of human chromosomes and has been detected in all types of human cancer tested. We used the telomeric repeat amplification protocol ( TRAP) assay to examine 71 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and their adjacent normal tissue. Telomerase activity was detected in 61 (86%) of the 71 NSCLC examined but not in any of the matched normal lung tissues. A sig nificant correlation was found between the presence of telomerase activity and current smoking status at the time of diagnosis (p=0.0076). In addition , a trend was found between telomerase activity and smoking exposure (p=0.0 6). Our findings demonstrate that telomerase activity is a common phenomeno n in NSCLC cases but not in the normal lung. However, certain cases in form er smokers may follow a telomerase independent pathway.