Detection of telomerase activity in human prostate: a diagnostic marker for prostatic cancer?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of telomerase activity as a marker for the development of prostate cancer in men with existing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a known risk factor for prostatic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomerase activity was assayed, using a highly sensitive polymerase-chain reaction-based assay, in nine biopsies from patients with prostatic cancer, 16 from patients clinically diagnosed with BPH and 11 from patients with no evidence of prostatic disease. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detectable in eight of the nine prostate cancer biopsies, in none of the normal prostates and in six of the 16 BPH biopsies. CONCLUSION: The finding of telomerase activity in six of 16 biopsies from patients with BPH could indicate early prostate cancer and suggests that telomerase activity may be of use as a biomarker in patients diagnosed with BPH and who may subsequently develop prostate cancer.