Detection of Telomerase Activity in Esophageal Carcinoma Tissue and Precancerous Lesions

Objective: To detect the telomerase activity in human esophageal carcinoma and precancerous leisions tissues, further more, to explor the relationship between telomerase activity and clinical pathologic factors of the esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Telomerase activity in specimens from 44 patients with esophageal carcinoma, 31patients with dysplasis tissue and 15patents of normal esophageal tissue were measured by TRAP. Results: It was found that telomerase activity was positive in 35 of 44 esophageal tissues (79.54%), in 18 of 31 dysplasis tissue specimens (58.10%) and in 4 of 15 normal esophageal tissues (26.67%). There were statistically significant difference between esophageal carcinoma, dysplasis tissue and normal esophageal tissue. No significant correlation was found between telomerase activity and the depth of infiltration or differentiated grade of tumor and lymph nodes metastasis. Conclusion: The presence of telomerase activity may play an important role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Telomerase activity might be a good marker in estimating the occurrence and progression of esophageal carcinoma.