This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Günther, T. Articles by Roessner, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Günther, T. Articles by Roessner, A.

Telomerase Activity and Expression of hTRT and hTR in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in Comparison with Extragastrointestinal Sarcomas¹

Departments of Pathology [T. G., R. S-S., C. H., A. R.] and General Surgery [M. P., H. U. S., H. L.], Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany

Stromal tumors of the gut (GISTs) have rarely been analyzed for genetic alterations. This study aimed at determining telomerase activity and the expression of the telomerase subunits human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) and human telomerase RNA (hTR) in GISTs and extragastrointestinal neurogenic or myogenic sarcomas. Telomerase activity was investigated using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay in 21 GISTs, recurrences and liver metastases from 16 patients, and in 22 leiomyosarcomas and 21 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), which served as reference tumors. Expression of hTRT and hTR mRNA was investigated using reverse transcription-PCR. Thirteen GISTs were localized in the stomach and three in the small intestine. Two tumors were benign. In one case, the biological behavior was uncertain. In 67% of GISTs, high telomerase activity was found, whereas high activity was noted in only 18% of leiomyosarcomas and in 48% of MPNSTs. There was no activity in two benign and two malignant GISTs. In one malignant tumor of the small intestine, the primary tumor showed no activity at first but a marked activity in its recurrence. In the tumor with uncertain behavior, telomerase activity and hTRT expression were only weak. In all GISTs showing telomerase activity, the catalytic subunit hTRT was expressed. All GISTs and extragastrointestinal sarcomas expressed hTR. In comparison with leiomyosarcomas and MPNSTs, malignant GISTs showed a higher telomerase activity, which, however, was not seen in benign GISTs. It is possible that telomerase activity occurs during the progression of malignant GISTs. There was a correlation between telomerase activity and the expression of hTRT.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Schneider-Stock, C. Boltze, J. Lasota, B. Peters, C. L. Corless, P. Ruemmele, L. Terracciano, M. Pross, L. Insabato, D. Di Vizio, et al. Loss of p16 Protein Defines High-Risk Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Tissue Microarray Study Clin. Cancer Res., January 15, 2005; 11(2): 638 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Schneider-Stock, C. Boltze, J. Lasota, M. Miettinen, B. Peters, M. Pross, A. Roessner, and T. Gunther High Prognostic Value of p16INK4 Alterations in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors J. Clin. Oncol., May 1, 2003; 21(9): 1688 - 1697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Krams, B. Hero, F. Berthold, R. Parwaresch, D. Harms, and P. Rudolph Full-Length Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Messenger RNA Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Neuroblastoma Am. J. Pathol., March 1, 2003; 162(3): 1019 - 1026. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]