上皮性卵巢癌hTERT表达及端粒酶活性的研究

Study on hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity in epithelial ovarian carcinomas

目的 探讨人端粒酶反转录酶 (hTERT)表达及端粒酶活性与卵巢癌发生、发展的关系 ,评价其可否作为卵巢癌的肿瘤标志物及预后指标。方法 应用RT PCR及端粒重复扩增方法对 43例上皮性卵巢癌、11例良性卵巢肿瘤和卵巢正常组织以及 4例交界性卵巢肿瘤共 69份标本进行hTERTmRNA及端粒酶活性检测。结果 hTERT表达及端粒酶活性率在卵巢癌中分别为 83.7% ( 36/4 3)及 76.7% ( 33/4 3) ,良性肿瘤中均为 9% ( 1/11) ,在正常卵巢组织和交界性卵巢肿瘤中阴性 ,其差异在卵巢癌与良性肿瘤及正常组织间均有显著性 (P值分别为 0 .0 0 0 4及 0 .0 0 0 1)。hTERT及端粒酶阳性率在某些预后因素如肿瘤类型、组织学分级、临床分期及肿瘤转移之间的差异皆无显著性。结论 卵巢癌中存在高频率的hTERT表达及端粒酶激活 ,表明hTERT作为端粒酶的催化亚基 ,在肿瘤细胞端粒酶的激活中起关键作用。hTERT表达及端粒酶活性可望作为有价值的肿瘤标志物而用于卵巢癌的早期诊断 ,但其预后价值尚有待于进一步研究。

Objective To determine human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression and telomerase activity in epithelial ovarian carcinomas(EOC),their relationship to ovarian carcinomas and progression,and to evaluate its value as a tumor marker for EOC diagnosis and prognosis indicator.Methods hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity were analyzed in 43 samples of EOC,11 benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian tissues,as well as 4 borderline ovarian tissues with the use of RT-PCR and telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP).Results The positive rates of hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity in EOC were 83.7%(36/43 samples) and 76.7%(33/43) respectively,while in benign tumors were 9%(1/11).There were undetectable hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity in normal ovarian tissues and borderline ovarian tumors.There were significant differences among EOC and normal ovarian tissues(P=0.0001) as well as benign ovarian tissues (P=0.0004).But no significant differences were found in some prognostic factors of EOC patients,such as tumor types,histological classification,clinical stage,and tumor metastasis.Conclusion The results demonstrated that hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity are common events in ovarian carcinogenesis.As catalytic subunits of telomerase,hTERT gene expression plays an essential role in telomerase activation.These findings suggest that hTERT gene expression and telomerase activity may be valuable tumor maker for EOC early diagnosis but its prognostic value needs to be further studied.