The Relationship between Telomerase Activation and Helicobacter pylori Infection in Gastric Cancer.
- Author:
Seung Sik KANG
1
;
Hyun Joo JANG
;
Jung Han KIM
;
Chang Soo EUN
;
Sea Hyub KAE
;
Jin LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea. jinleeprof@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Telomerase;
Stomach Neoplasms;
Helicobacter pylori
- MeSH:
Carcinogenesis;
Helicobacter pylori*;
Helicobacter*;
Humans;
Metaplasia;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Stomach Neoplasms*;
Telomerase*;
Telomere
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2002;63(6):634-642
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Telomerase, an enzyme synthesizing telomere, plays an important role in cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. Telomerase activity is detected in large number of malignant tumors and also in precancerous lesions, such as intestinal metaplasia. It suggests that telomerase activation may be an early event in carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the major carcinogen in gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between telomerase activation and H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. METHODS: We measured telomerase activity and H. pylori infection using the tissues obtained by gastroduodenoscopy in 50 patients of gastric cancer. Telomerase activity was detected with a Telomerase PCR ELISA(R) kit and H. pylori infection was examined with a CLO(R) kit. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 32% of intestinal metaplasia and 72% of gastric cancer. The histological type, degree of differentiation, stage and ECOG performance status were found to be unrelated to telomerase activity. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in telomerase-positive patients of gastric cancer (p=0.016). Telomerase activity measured by photometric absorbance was significantly higher in intestinal metaplasia and cancers with H. pylori infection than in those without infection (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that H. pylori infection may induce telomerase activation in intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer.
