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Departments of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology [L. M., Y-H. F., J. S. L., S. M. L. W. K. H.], Pathology [A. K. E-N., S. K.], and Tumor Biology [R. L.], The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
The primary function of telomerase is the synthesis of telomeric DNA, which is the main pathway by which telomere length is maintained in the human germline and stem cells. Activation of telomerase is associated with elongation of telomeres and cell immortalization. Recently, telomerase activity has been detected in tissues from many human cancers but not in the majority of normal tissues, suggesting that telomere stabilization and telomerase activation may play a role in tumorigenesis. To explore telomerase activity in head and neck neoplastic and preneoplastic tissues, we studied 16 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and 60 specimens from 29 patients with HNSCC for telomerase activity. We precisely compared telomerase activity with histological features in adjacent tissue sections. We detected telomerase activity in 16 of 16 (100%) HNSCC cell lines, 26 of 29 (90%) invasive tumors, 7 of 7 (100%) dysplastic lesions, and 5 of 5 (100%) hyperplastic lesions, whereas 0 of 17 normal tissues or 2 hyperkeratotic lesions had detectable telomerase activity. Our data indicate that activation of telomerase activity is frequent in HNSCC and may occur early in the tumorigenesis process. The reactivation of telomerase may be a useful marker for cancer risk assessment in the oral cavity.
1 This study was supported in part by an M. D. Anderson Cancer Center PRS grant and National Cancer Institute Grant PO1 CA 52051. W. K. H. is an American Cancer Society clinical research professor.
2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, Box 80. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030.
Received 8/22/96. Accepted 10/29/96.
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