Telomerase Activity in Gastric Adenocarcinomas: Frozen Tissues Versus Methacarn-fixed Paraffin-embedded Tissues.
- Author:
Jinyoung YOO
1
;
Seok Jin KANG
;
Chang Suk KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea. sjkang@wincent.cuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Telomerase;
Methacarn-fixation;
Stomach neoplasm
- MeSH:
Adenocarcinoma*;
Carcinogenesis;
DNA;
DNA Replication;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Humans;
Paraffin;
RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase;
Stomach Neoplasms;
Telomerase*
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment
2003;35(6):478-482
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that synthesizes TTAGGG telomeric DNA onto chromosome ends to compensate for sequence loss during DNA replication. It has been detected in 85~90% of all primary human cancers, implicating that its apparent reactivation in tumors may play a role in the tumorigenic process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate telomerase activity in stomach cancer, and to determine whether methacarn-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues can replace frozen tissue sections for the telomerase (TRAP) assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Frozen and corresponding methacarn-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples were obtained from 51 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and analyzed for telomerase activity by using a TRAPeze ELISA kit. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 37 (73%) frozen samples, and in 13 (25%) methacarn-fixed paraffin blocks. Telomerase activity was well correlated with depth of invasion (p=.037) and tumor differentiation (p=.022). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that reactivated telomerase may play a significant role in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer and may reflect the malignant potential of the tumor. It is noteworthy that methacarn- fixed tissue cannot as yet substitute for the frozen tissue in the TRAP assay.
