Telomerase activity of Merkel cell carcinomas and Merkel cell carcinoma-derived cell cultures

Abstract Merkel cell carcinomas are rare malignant tumors of the skin, which are predominantly observed in elderly patients (mean age 65–70 years). It is believed but not yet proven that these tumors are derived from the Merkel cells of the epidermis and hair follicles. The Merkel cells themselves probably originate from an asymmetric cell division of basal keratinocytes and the resulting differentiated Merkel cells have presumably, at least in humans, lost their growth potential. The capability of indefinite cell division in germ line cells and in the great majority of malignant tumors as well as an increased growth potential in certain somatic cells (such as basal cells of renewable tissues) is correlated with cellular telomerase activity, which is absent in differentiated somatic cells. In this study the telomerase activity in cryostat sections of frozen Merkel cell tumor biopsies and in in vitro cultivated Merkel cell carcinoma cells was analyzed. We detected telomerase activity in four tumors and three of four cell cultures. These results show that despite their pronounced neuroendocrine differentiation and their occurrence in patients of advanced age, Merkel cell carcinomas possess telomerase activity similar to that of common carcinoma types.