Author/Editor		Luzar, Boštjan; Poljak, Mario; Klopčič, Ulrika; Ferlan-Marolt, Vera
Title		Pomen katalitične podenote encima telomeraze v karcinogenezi adenokarcinoma žolčnika
Translated title		The role of telomerase catalytic subunit in gallbladder carcinoma
Type		članek
Source		In: Jelenc F, editor. Zbornik simpozija Kirurgija žolčnika in žolčevodov; 2003 okt; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Klinični center, Klinični oddelek za abdominalno kirurgijo,
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 28-34
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. Telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) gene re-expression is a rate limiting step for telomerase activity, a key enzyme implicated in cellular immortalisation and transformation. Aims. To determine whether hTERT gene re-expression has any role in gallbladder carcinogenesis. Material and methods. The presence of hTERT protein was analysed in 89 gallbladder tissue samples: 16 normal epithelia, 14 regenerative atypias, 15 low grade dysplasias, 16 high grade dysplasias and in 28 adenocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry. At least 200 nuclei were quantified per slide and the number of positive signals per nucleus was expressed as a hTERT index. Results. The mean hTERT index increased progressively with the degree of gallbladder epithelial abnormalities: from 0.03 in normal epithelia, 0.04 in regenerative atypias, 0.25 in lowgrade dysplasias, 0.82 in high grade dysplasias to 0.93 in adenocarcinomas. According to the mean hTERT indices, three groups of gallbladder epithelial changes were identified: 1.) normal and regeneratively atypical epithelium, 2. low grade dysplasia, and 3.) high grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). Condusions. We believe that occasional presence of hTERT protein in normal and regeneratively atypical gallbladder epithelium most probably reflects its self-renewal capacity. Nevertheless, significantly higher hTERT indices in low grade so as high grade dysplastic epithelium and gallbladder adenocarcinoma, are most likely the consequence of hTERT reexpression - an early event in the multistep process of gallbladder carcinogenesis.
Descriptors		GALLBLADDER NEOPLASMS TELOMERASE ADENOCARCINOMA IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY