The Relationship between Telomerase Activation and Helicobacter pylori Infection in Gastric Cancer

Kang, Seung Sik; Jang, Hyun Joo; Kim, Jung Han; Eun, Chang Soo; Kae, Sea Hyub; Lee, Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telomerase, an enzyme synthesizing telomere, plays an important role in cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. Telomerase activity is detected in large number of malignant tumors and also in precancerous lesions, such as intestinal metaplasia. It suggests that telomerase activation may be an early event in carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the major carcinogen in gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between telomerase activation and H. pylori infection in gastric cancer.
METHODS
We measured telomerase activity and H. pylori infection using the tissues obtained by gastroduodenoscopy in 50 patients of gastric cancer. Telomerase activity was detected with a Telomerase PCR ELISA(R) kit and H. pylori infection was examined with a CLO(R) kit.
RESULTS
Telomerase activity was detected in 32% of intestinal metaplasia and 72% of gastric cancer. The histological type, degree of differentiation, stage and ECOG performance status were found to be unrelated to telomerase activity. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in telomerase-positive patients of gastric cancer (p=0.016). Telomerase activity measured by photometric absorbance was significantly higher in intestinal metaplasia and cancers with H. pylori infection than in those without infection (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study suggested that H. pylori infection may induce telomerase activation in intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer.