Telomerase activation - One step on the road to carcinoma of the gall bladder

Background: As information on telomeres and telomerase dynamics in the regulation of cell cycle events accumulates, new opportunities for application to gerontology and cancer therapy are emerging. The aim of this study was to detect the telomerase activity (hTERT protein) in the biopsy specimens of human carcinoma of the gall bladder. Patients and Methods: Thirty cases each of carcinoma of the gall bladder and cholelithiasis (controls) were analysed. Immunohistochemistry was employed using mouse monoclonal antibody against hTERT protein and by taking human tonsil and testicular tissue as positive controls. Results: Seventeen cases (56.66%) of carcinoma of the gall bladder and 2 cases (6.66%) of cholelithiasis were strongly positive for telomerase. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Six cases (20%) of gall bladder carcinoma and one case (3.33%) of cholelithiasis were weakly positive. The difference was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001). Telomerase activity was mainly concentrated in poorly-differentiated adenocarcinomas (83.33%) and increased expression was noted in advanced stages. Conclusion: The presence of telomerase may serve as a molecular marker for the diagnosis of gall bladder carcinoma and may have prognostic and therapeutic implications in the treatment Of patients in the future.