HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bravaccini, S Articles by Amadori, D Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bravaccini, S Articles by Amadori, D

Potential of telomerase expression and activity in cervical specimens as a diagnostic tool

¹ Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Via Forlanini 34, 47100 Forlì, Italy
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital
³ Division of Oncology and Diagnostics, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital
⁴ Department of Oncology, Infermi Hospital, 47900 Rimini, Italy

Correspondence to:
Dr S Bravaccini
Division of Oncology and Diagnostics, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Via Forlanini 34, 47100 Forlì, Italy; s.bravaccini{at}ausl.fo.it Aims: To evaluate the potential use of the immunohistochemical expression of telomerase and the measurement of its activity as diagnostic tools in the uterine cervix.

Methods: The fluorescent telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay was used to evaluate telomerase activity in a series of 43 cervical scrapings. Twenty five cases were cytologically classified as inflammatory, and/or metaplastic, and/or acanthotic, and 18 cases presented cell alterations compatible with mild, moderate, or severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Immunohistochemistry was performed on a retrospective series of 86 archival, paraffin wax embedded blocks using a recently developed anti-hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) monoclonal antibody.

Results: Telomerase activity was expressed as arbitrary enzymatic units (AEU). Median values were 38.0 AEU for inflammatory non-dysplastic cell specimens, 33.5 AEU for CIN I, 41.0 AEU for CIN II, and 28.0 AEU for CIN III. The median percentage of immunoreactive dysplastic cells, as detected by immunohistochemistry, was significantly (p = 0.024) lower in CIN I (45%) than in more severe dysplastic (CIN II 70%, CIN III 80%) lesions. In contrast, no differences were seen in the enzymatic activity detected by the TRAP assay among the different dysplastic lesions.

Conclusions: These data indicate that, using a molecular extra situ method, the telomerase activity of inflammatory and non-dysplastic elements masks the expected differences between mild and severe dysplasia. Conversely, an in situ approach permits the accurate identification of telomerase positive dysplastic cells.

Abbreviations: AEU, arbitrary enzymatic units; CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; HPV, human papillomavirus; hTERT, human telomerase reverse transcriptase; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; TRAP, telomeric repeat amplification protocol

Keywords: cervical dysplasia; immunohistochemistry; telomerase; telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P.-H. Wang, G.-D. Chen, H. Chang, S.-F. Yang, C.-P. Han, L.-Y. Lin, and J.-L. Ko High Expression of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase in High-Grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix and Its Correlation With Human Papillomavirus Infection Reproductive Sciences, May 1, 2007; 14(4): 338 - 348. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J P A Baak, A-J Kruse, S J Robboy, E A M Janssen, B van Diermen, and I Skaland Dynamic behavioural interpretation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia with molecular biomarkers J. Clin. Pathol., October 1, 2006; 59(10): 1017 - 1028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]