OBJECTIVETo investigate expression and significance of hTERT, telomerase associated-regulation protein (TRAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in ovarian epithelial tumors.

METHODS106 specimens of ovarian epithelial tumors and their clinical history were collected, including 54 cases of malignancy, 33 borderline cases and 19 benign tumor cases. Immunohistochemical staining for hTERT, TRAP and PCNA were performed. Follow-up information was obtained for 45 of 87 cases (malignancy in 54 and borderline malignancy in 33).

RESULTSThe expression of hTERT was significantly different between benign (4/19) and borderline (90.9%, 30/33) cases, benign and malignant (94.4%, 51/54) cases (P < 0.001), as was the expression of TRAP between benign (4/15) and malignant (77.8%, 28/36) cases (P < 0.001). The expression of hTERT and TRAP was not higher in stage III, IV ovarian cancer patients than in stage I and II (P > 0.05, P > 0.3). The expression of PCNA between benign (6.9 +/- 5.9)% and borderline (26.4 +/- 17.8)% cases, benign and malignant (51.8 +/- 22.1)% cases, and borderline and malignant cases were different, and were statistically significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.05). 33 cases of borderline malignancy are all survive. In 54 cases of malignancy, 35 of them have metastasis (64.8%), including 5 cases of lymph nodes metastasis. 4 of them died (7.4%).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of hTERT and TRAP is associated with the malignant degree of ovarian cancer, but does not correlate with stage. The expression of TRAP resembles hTERT, which may be a new tumor-associated gene. Telomerase activity is positively associated with PCNA.