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Telomerase Activity: A Marker to Distinguish Follicular Thyroid Adenoma from Carcinoma¹

Breast Cancer Program, Oncology Center [C. B. U., S. S], Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery [M. S., R. U., M. A. Z.], and Department of Pathology [W. H. W.], The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

The inability to distinguish microinvasive follicular thyroid cancer from benign follicular tumors preoperatively presents an important surgical dilemma. We examined 44 follicular tumors and found telomerase activity in all 11 follicular carcinomas and in 8 of 33 benign follicular tumors. It was undetectable in 22 normal thyroid tissues adjacent to the tumors. Telomerase activity may thus provide a diagnostic marker distinguishing benign from malignant follicular thyroid tumors. The ability to idetify invasive follicular thyroid tumors could avert over 14,000 thyroidectomies annually in the United States, thereby significantly decreasing morbidity and health care costs.

¹ Supported in part by Johns Hopkins Oncology Center funds (to S. S.) and by Grant 9610 from the Susan G. Komen Foundation (to C. B. U.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, 370 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196. Phone: (410) 614-2484; Fax: (410) 614-4073; E-mail: saras@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu.

Received 2/27/97. Accepted 4/20/97.

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