Detection of telomerase activity in human carcinomas using a TRAP-ELISA method: Correlation with hTR and hTERT expression

We have evaluated telomerase activity in a tumour population of 65 human ca ncers by using a TRAP-based method, in which detection is performed by an e nzyme immunoassay (ELISA). We have corroborated that sensitivity and specif icity of this new procedure can be considered similar to that of classical TRAP method, having the advantage of a rapid and reproducible analysis of l arge pools of samples. Thus, telomerase activity was detected in 83% of the rumours included in our population. Moreover, we found a significant assoc iation between enzyme activity and both hTR and hTERT expression (P=0.004 a nd P=0.04, respectively).