Telomerase and hTERT: can they serve as markers for gastric cancer diagnosis?

AIM: To investigate telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (nhGMECs) and fibroblasts (nhGMFs). METHODS: nhGMECs and nhGMFs were isolated and cultured from specimens obtained during routine surgery for bleeding peptic ulcer. Telomerase activity in nhGMFs, nhGMECs, and the tumor cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells was analyzed using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. hTERT protein was determined in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: A similar level of telomerase activity was observed in nhGMECs, nhGMFs and BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28 cell lines. Positive hTERT immunostaining was detected in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cell lines. CONCLUSION: The use of telomerase or hTERT as diagnostic markers for gastric cancer may require further studies.