Detection of early hilar lung cancer and bronchial dysplasia using fluorescence bronchoscopy and telomerase analysis.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In this study, we analyze telomerase activity of preinvasive bronchial lesions using biopsy specimens obtained by fluorescence bronchoscopy. We studied 74 bronchial biopsy specimens (22 normal bronchial epithelium or bronchitis, 15 squamous metaplasia, 23 dysplasia and 14 squamous cell carcinoma) obtained by fluorescence bronchoscopy. The intensity of telomerase activity in the biopsy specimen was determined by the fluorescence-based TRAP method. The mean values (±SD) of telomerase activity in normal bronchial epithelium or bronchitis, squamous metaplasia, dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma were 6.2±7.5, 13.9±14.8, 18.5±20.8 and 54.5±22.3 units respectively. The upper limit of telomerase activity in normal bronchial epithelium was 21 units (mean+2SD). Interestingly, 5 of 15 squamous metaplasia (33%), 8 of 23 dysplasia (35%) and all squamous cell carcinoma (100%) biopsies exhibited levels of telomerase activity higher than 21 units. In addition, telomerase activity was found to increase in proportion to the severity of histological change from normal bronchial epithelium or bronchitis to squamous cell carcinoma. These results suggest that an increase in telomerase activity is a feature of the early stages of development of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with strong telomerase activity being prominent during the latter stages.