Abstract
Telomerase activity was examined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, in a total of 37 colorectal adenocarcinomas, including stages A, B and C according to the Astler and Collier classification, and correlated with clinicopathological features. Of 17 stage C lesions, 13 were positive (76.5%; P<0.01), demonstrating a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis. In contrast, only 6 of 20 stage A and B␣carcinomas were positive (30.0%), this being significantly lower (P<0.05). Moderately or poorly differentiated subtypes were more predominant in the telomerase-positive than in the telomerase-negative groups (P<0.05) with greater elevation of mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices (P<0.0001). No significant relation was found between telomerase activity and p53 protein accumulation or Bcl-2 protein expression. The good correlation with tumor staging, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, and mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices suggests that this parameter might have potential application in estimation of prognosis.
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Received: 28 February 1998 / Accepted: 30 April 1998
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Okayasu, I., Mitomi, H., Yamashita, K. et al. Telomerase activity significantly correlates with cell differentiation, proliferation and lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinomas. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 124, 444–449 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004320050197
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004320050197