Gelmini S, Crisci A, Salvadori B, Pazzagli M, Selli C, Orlando C
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Italy.
Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Jul;6(7):2771-6.
Telomerase activity was measured with a quantitative assay, based on a modification of telomeric repeat amplification protocol method, in bladder cancers and apparently normal mucosa in 33 patients. In the same patients, the enzyme was also measured in exfoliated cells collected both with voided urine and bladder washings. Results obtained in urine were compared with those from 20 healthy subjects. Telomerase activity was present in 31 (94%) bladder cancer tissues and in 23 (72%) apparently normal mucosa samples. However, the levels of enzyme activity were significantly higher in cancer tissues in comparison with normal mucosa (mean +/- SD, 47.3 +/- 23.2 and 14.9 +/- 6.1 ng DNA/microg protein, respectively; P < 0.0001). Telomerase activity in bladder cancer tissues was not related to tumor stage and grade. Enzyme activity was present in 27 urine samples and in 27 (82%) bladder washings collected from cancer patients. We did not find correlation between the activity in urine and washings, and their mean levels were not different (22.2 +/- 10.1 and 20.7 +/- 8.0, respectively). Telomerase activity in bladder cancer tissues was correlated to its activity in urine (r = 0.650, P < 0.001) and in bladder washings (r = 0.410, P < 0.05). Only 2 of 20 urine samples from control subjects were found to express telomerase activity at a very low level. This was the first attempt to correlate telomerase activity in exfoliated cells from urine and bladder washings with the activity in corresponding bladder cancers. According to these results we postulate that telomerase activity in urine sediment reflects the activity in bladder cancers better than bladder washings and, for its easy collection, is to be preferred as diagnostic marker in this tumor.
采用基于端粒重复序列扩增协议方法改良的定量检测法，对33例患者的膀胱癌组织及外观正常的黏膜组织进行端粒酶活性检测。同时，对同一批患者通过排尿及膀胱冲洗收集的脱落细胞也进行了该酶活性检测。将尿液检测结果与20名健康受试者的结果进行比较。结果显示，31例（94%）膀胱癌组织及23例（72%）外观正常的黏膜样本中存在端粒酶活性。然而，癌组织中的酶活性水平显著高于正常黏膜（平均±标准差分别为47.3±23.2和14.9±6.1 ng DNA/μg蛋白；P<0.0001）。膀胱癌组织中的端粒酶活性与肿瘤分期及分级无关。从癌症患者收集的27份尿液样本及27份（82%）膀胱冲洗液中存在酶活性。我们未发现尿液及冲洗液中的活性之间存在相关性，且它们的平均水平无差异（分别为22.2±10.1和20.7±8.0）。膀胱癌组织中的端粒酶活性与其在尿液（r = 0.650，P<0.001）及膀胱冲洗液（r = 0.410，P<0.05）中的活性相关。在20份对照受试者的尿液样本中，仅2份检测到极低水平的端粒酶活性。这是首次尝试将尿液及膀胱冲洗液中的脱落细胞端粒酶活性与相应膀胱癌组织中的活性进行关联。根据这些结果，我们推测尿液沉渣中的端粒酶活性比膀胱冲洗液更能反映膀胱癌组织中的活性，且因其易于收集，更适合作为该肿瘤的诊断标志物。
