[Telomerase activity in infiltration ductal carcinoma of breast].

OBJECTIVES

To compare telomerase activity of infiltration ductal carcinoma of breast with that of benign breast changes and to analyze the significance of telomerase activity in diagnosis of malignancy.

METHOD: Telomerase activity was detected in 61 cases of infiltration ductal carcinomas of breast and 14 cases of benign changed breast using TRAP assay.

RESULTS

Telomerase activity was detected in 49 of 61 (80.3%) cases of infiltration ductal carcinoma. Telomerase activity in infiltration ductal carcinoma was not related tumor grades, tumor size, lymph node metastasis status, even tumor tissue estogen receptor(ER) and progesterone receptor(PR) status. Telomerase activity was not present in 5 cases of breast fibrocystic disease. Weak telomerase activity was detected in 4 of 9 cases of breast fibroadenoma. These suggested that telomerase activity acquires in very early stage of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Telomerase activity is only detected in most of infiltration ductal carcinomas of breast and few cases of fibroadenoma. Telomerase activity may play an important role in the development of breast cancer.