Clinical usefulness of telomerase assay for the detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with oral malignancy

Objective.-Telomerase is considered a diagnostic marker of malignancy. We i nvestigated the usefulness of telomerase assay for the detection of lymph n ode micrometastasis. Methods.-Sixteen cervical lymph nodes with metastasis of oral cancer and 20 benign lymph nodes were studied. The oral cancer cell line was used to est imate the sensitivity for telomerase assay. Telomerase activity was measure d by semiquantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol. Results.-There was a significant difference between malignant and benign ly mph nodes. The telomerase activity of 50 mg of lymph nodes with 10(3) or mo re cancer cells differed from that of control lymph nodes. Lymph nodes with 10(2) or fewer tumor cells expressed similar levels as benign lymph nodes. Conclusions.-In addition to routine histologic examination, telomerase assa y is considered a useful tool for the detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with oral malignancy.