[The detection and clinical significance of telomerase activity in supraglottic carcinomas].

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression and significance of telomerase activity in laryngeal carcinoma.

METHOD: We detected telomerase activity of HEP-2 cell line, 26 cases of supraglottic carcinoma tissues and 15 cases of peri-carcinoma tissues with PCR-based assay designated TRAP (for telomeric repeat amplification protocol).

RESULT: The telomerase positive rate of supraglottic carcinoma 84.6% (22/26) was obvious higher than that of peri-carcinoma 40% (6/15), P < 0.01. No significant differences in positive rates were found among different groups divided according to clinical stage or metastasis of cervical lymph node, P > 0.05.

CONCLUSION

Telomerase activation is related to immortalization process, though not much helpful in diagnosis of supraglottic carcinoma.