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Clinical implications of telomerase detection
Author(s) -
Matthews P,
Jones C J
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.2001.01186.x
Subject(s) - telomerase , polymerase chain reaction , biology , telomere , clinical significance , reverse transcriptase , telomerase reverse transcriptase , cancer , cancer research , pathology , medicine , gene , genetics
Clinical implications of telomerase detection In 1994 a sensitive method for the detection of telomerase was described. This assay, which was based on the polymerase chain reaction, suggested that telomerase activity was associated with immortal and cancer cells. Since then more than a thousand studies have documented the expression and activity of the enzyme in diseased tissues, primarily tumours. This review gives an overview of the biological significance of telomerase expression and methods for detecting its activity. This is followed by an organ system‐based discussion of expression in normal tissues and disease states. We finish with speculation as to the future role of telomerase detection in diagnostic histopathology.