Clinical and prognostic value of hTERT mRNA expression in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Marzena Zalewska-Ziob; Katarzyna Dobija-Kubica; Krzysztof Biernacki; Brygida Adamek; Janusz Kasperczyk; Krzysztof Bruliński; Zofia Ostrowska

doi:10.18388/abp.2017_1618

Marzena Zalewska-Ziob Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Katarzyna Dobija-Kubica John Paul II Hospital of Oncology, General Surgery Ward, Bielsko Biala, Poland
Krzysztof Biernacki Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Brygida Adamek Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Janusz Kasperczyk Chair and Department of Environmental Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Krzysztof Bruliński Specialist Hospital of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Thoracic Surgery Ward, Bystra Slaska, Poland
Zofia Ostrowska Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2017_1618

Keywords: non-small-cell lung cancer, telomerase, hTERT expression, survival rate, prognosis

Abstract

Telomerase, undetectable in normal somatic cells, plays a critical role in carcinogenesis of the majority of human tumors including lung carcinoma. The aim of our study was to determine human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in order to estimate its usefulness as diagnostic and/or prognostic factor. hTERT expression were analyzed in a group of 12 females and 28 males with NSCLC using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction – the QRT-PCR method in cancerous and non-cancerous lung tissues. Results were analyzed according to clinical data and one-, two-, and five-year survival rates. hTERT expression in the cancerous tissue was significantly higher than in the lung parenchyma free from neoplasm infiltration (p<0.05). There was no significant association between hTERT expression in the tumor tissue and age, gender, histological type of the tumor, grading or clinical stage. A significant difference in hTERT expression between two types of histopathological pattern (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) was detected (p=0.01). No association between hTERT expression in NSCLC specimens and survival rates was found. hTERT mRNA detection by QRT-PCR in tumor and corresponding cancer-free tissues can be used as a diagnostic marker in patients with NSCLC, but seems not to be a prognostic factor.

Author Biographies

Marzena Zalewska-Ziob, Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Department of Medical and Molecular Biology

PhD

Katarzyna Dobija-Kubica, John Paul II Hospital of Oncology, General Surgery Ward, Bielsko Biala, Poland

General Surgery Ward

PhD

Krzysztof Biernacki, Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Department of Medical and Molecular Biology

MSc

Brygida Adamek, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Department of Basic Medical Science

assistant professor

Janusz Kasperczyk, Chair and Department of Environmental Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Department of Environmental Medicine and Epidemiology

assistant professor

Zofia Ostrowska, Chair and Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Department of Medical and Molecular Biology

professor

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