Telomerase activity in human renal cell carcinoma

Purpose: Telomerase activity has been detected in a wide variety of human t umors. The present study evaluated telomerase activity in association with the acquisition of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: Telomerase activity was examined in 30 RCC and the adjacent normal kidney tissue, obtained as surgical specimens. The activity was assayed by polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol as say. Results: Among the 30 RCC, is (60%) displayed telomerase activity, whereas none of the normal tissue samples exhibited it. Subdivision of the tumors a ccording to telomerase activity did not reveal any obvious difference in di stribution with regard to tumor size, stage, histocytological subtype, or D NA-ploidy. However, a statistically significant relationship was found betw een the frequency of telomerase-positive activity and both serum immunosupp ressive acidic protein level in the patient and tumor grade (P < 0.05). The re was no significant difference in the recurrent-free survival and the dis ease-specific survival between patients with positive telomerase activity a nd patients with negative activity. Conclusion: The present results indicate that telomerase activity might be related to the progression of RCC and thus a marker of malignant potential. immunosuppressive acidic protein, renal cell carcinoma.