TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential of telomerase expression and activity in cervical specimens as a diagnostic tool
AU - Bravaccini, S.
AU - Sanchini, M. A.
AU - Amadori, A.
AU - Medri, L.
AU - Saragoni, L.
AU - Calistri, D.
AU - Monti, F.
AU - Volpi, A.
AU - Amadori, D.
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1136/jcp.2004.024158
DO - 10.1136/jcp.2004.024158
M3 - Article
C2 - 16126869
AN - SCOPUS:24644468229
VL - 58
SP - 911
EP - 914
JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
SN - 0021-9746
IS - 9
ER -