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Telomerase Activity Is Associated with Cell Cycle Deregulation in Human Breast Cancer¹

Departments of Pathology [G. L., N. H. N., P. N., J. C., G. R.], Oncology [N. H. N.], and Surgery [S. O. E.], Umeå University, S-90187 Umeå, Sweden

Deregulation of the cell cycle by abnormal expression of one or several cell cycle regulatory proteins is a common finding in malignant tumors and might be a prerequisite for cancer development. Telomerase activity is an immortalization marker that is found in most cancers and for which an association with an active cell cycle has been implicated. In the tissue of 106 human breast carcinomas, we analyzed the relationship between telomerase activity levels and defects in the cell cycle machinery with a focus on the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) pathway(s). The fraction of telomerase-positive tumors was 85%, and large differences in telomerase activity were found. Overexpression of cyclin D1 and/or cyclin E, in combination with a normal pRB, was a typical feature of tumors with high telomerase activity levels. Down-regulation of p16^INK4 was not related per se to telomerase activity, but tumors with low p16^INK4 in combination with cyclin D1 or E overexpression demonstrated high activity. Tumor cell proliferation, determined by Ki-67 expression, correlated significantly to telomerase activity levels. There was, however, not a strict association between proliferation rate and telomerase activity, because tumors with inactivated pRB had the highest Ki-67 fractions but intermediate telomerase activity. Also, cyclin D1 overexpression was associated with high telomerase levels without an increase in tumor cell proliferation. The present study indicates that telomerase activation occurs preferentially in breast cancers with certain cell cycle regulatory defects and that telomerase activity levels may depend on the specific defect(s).

¹ This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Foundation, Medical Faculty of Umeå, Sahlbergs Foundation, Lions Cancer Research Foundation (Umeå, Sweden), and a special grant from the Västerbotten County Council.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed. Fax: +46-90-7852829; E-mail: goran.roos@pathol.umu.se.

Received 8/12/96. Accepted 12/ 3/96.

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