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Positive Regulation of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene Expression and Telomerase Activity by DNA Methylation in Pancreatic Cancer

  • Laboratory and Translational Research
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

We sought to determine the role of telomerase and its catalytic subunit hTERT in pancreatic cancer and evaluate the epigenetic regulation of hTERT by promoter methylation.

Methods

Thirty paired samples of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and adjacent normal tissue and 12 chronic pancreatitis samples were studied. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction were performed to analyze hTERT expression, telomerase activity, and methylation status of gene promoters, respectively.

Result

hTERT and telomerase activity were upregulated in pancreatic cancer compared with paired normal tissues and samples of pancreatitis. hTERT expression correlated with telomerase activity (P < .05) and in turn correlated positively with hTERT promoter methylation (P < .001) and p16 promoter methylation. hTERT transcript expression and telomerase activity both conferred a worse outcome by univariate and multivariate analysis (P < .05).

Conclusion

hTERT expression and telomerase activity are predictors of poor outcome in pancreatic cancer. hTERT gene expression is positively regulated by promoter methylation.

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Acknowledgment

A.K. was supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, India in the form of fellowship, grant 9/141(154)-EMR-2003.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Alpana Kumari PhD & Jai Dev Wig MD

  2. Department of Cytology and Gynecological Pathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Radhika Srinivasan MD, PhD

  3. Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Rakesh Kumar Vasishta MD

Authors
  1. Alpana Kumari PhD
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  2. Radhika Srinivasan MD, PhD
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  3. Rakesh Kumar Vasishta MD
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  4. Jai Dev Wig MD
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Correspondence to Jai Dev Wig MD.

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Kumari, A., Srinivasan, R., Vasishta, R.K. et al. Positive Regulation of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene Expression and Telomerase Activity by DNA Methylation in Pancreatic Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 16, 1051–1059 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0333-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0333-8

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