The role of telomerase activity in thyroid tumorigenesis

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Telomerase activity was examined in thyroid disease states by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, including adenomas arid carcinomas, and correlated with Clinicopathological features. Of a total of 26 papillary carcinomas, 16 cases (61.5%) were positive, with the poorly differentiated subtype being predominant (P<O.O5). A significantly more shortened terminal restriction fragment length (P<O.05), higher incidence of extrathyroidal extension (P<O.OO1), and more elevated Ki-67 labeling indices (P<O.002) were also found in telomerase-positive than in -negative papillary carcnnomas. Of four follicular carcinomas, 3 cases (75.5%) were positive. Positive telomerase activity in follicular adenomas (9/23 cases, 39.1%) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (12/22 cases, 54.5%) appeared to be mainly caused by infiltrating lymphocytes. However, three cases of atypical adenoma with relatively increased Ki-67 labeling indices were positive, suggesting a possibility of malignant potential. The good correlation with extrathyroidal invasiveness, Ki-67 labeling indices and poor differentiation of papillary carcinomas which was determined by the use of multivariate analysis suggests that this parameter might have potential application in estimation of tumor progession and prognosis and in clinical management.Similarly, the relation of telomerase activity with cancer cell differentiation, proliferation and progression was confirmed in sporadic colorectal carcinomas.