[Detection of telomerase activity in laryngeal carcinoma and the association between telomerase activity and lymphatic metastasis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the telomerase activity in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) and the association between telomerase activity and lymphatic metastasis.

METHOD: Telomerase activity was determined in 47 specimens of LSCC and 10 specimens of laryngeal inflammatory polyps using PCR-ELISA.

RESULT: Telomerase activity was detected in 39 of 47 (83%) LSCC, but was not detected in all 10 laryngeal inflammatory polyps. There were significant differences between them (P < 0.01). Telomerase activation in LSCC with positive cervical lymph node involvement appeared to be higher (13 out of 13 cases, 100%) than in LSCC with negative cervical lymph node involvement (26 out of 34, 76.47%), (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Telomerase is activated frequently in LSCC and may become a biomarker of LSCC. The detection of telomerase activity in LSCC may have some value for predicting metastasis potential and prognosis and can guide the clinical practices applying selective neck dissection.