Expression of telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) mRNA does not predict survival in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesizes telomeric repeats onto chromosomal ends using a segment of its RNA component as a template. Its activity has become an established indicator of the diagnosis, biologic al behavior, and prognosis of several tumors. However, few studies have inv estigated the diagnostic and prognostic importance of the expression of tel omerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) mRNA in transitional cell carcinoma of th e upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT). We investigated the expression of hTERT mR NA using in situ hybridization in 125 cases of TCC-UUT, and also its relati on with the expression of telomerase RNA component (hTERC), proliferating c ell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity, clinicopathologic parameters, and clinical outcome. A positive expression of hTERT mRNA was recognized in 93.6% of the samples and was apparent within the cytoplasm of tumor cells. In the normal urothelium examined in a few cases, its expression was barel y detected. hTERT mRNA scores showed a significant association with hTERC s core. However, no relationship was found between the expression of hTERT mR NA and clinicopathologic findings, PCNA index, or prognosis. These results suggest that the expression of hTERT mRNA does not predict prognosis in TCC -UUT.