G. Gomatou , C. Masaoutis , I. Vamvakaris , E. Kotteas , E. Bouros , V. Tzilas , D. Bouros
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the catalytic subunit of telomerase enzyme, which adds nucleotides to telomeres and counteracts their length shortening. The development of a telomere maintenance mechanism represents a hallmark of cancer. On the other hand, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with mutations in telomerase genes and shorter telomeres. IPF is frequently complicated with lung cancer.
Aim
To investigate the expression of hTERT in lung cancer with co-existing IPF and to compare with lung cancer without fibrosis.
Methods
Diagnostic lung cancerous biopsies were retrieved from 18 patients with lung cancer and concomitant IPF, as well as 18 age and gender matched controls with lung cancer without pulmonary fibrosis. The expression of hTERT was studied with immunohistochemistry. ImajeJ software was used to quantitate subcellular stain intensity. Immunohistochemical investigation of two senescence-associated markers, p16 and p21, was also performed in all 36 cases.
Results
Both groups highly expressed hTERT, without significant difference (100% vs 95%, p = 0.521). Evaluation of p16 and p21 immunostaining revealed negative to minimal immunoreactivity in both groups. hTERT localization exhibited higher median nuclear intensity in the group of lung cancer with IPF (0.62 vs 0.45, p = 0.016), while cytoplasmic intensity did not differ significantly (0.17 vs 0.15, p = 0.463). Higher median nuclear intensity was also correlated with small cell lung cancer subtype in the whole study sample (0.69 vs 0.45, p = 0.09).
Conclusion
hTERT is highly expressed in lung cancer with concomitant IPF, but with differential localization compared to lung cancer without IPF, implying differences in pathogenicity and requiring further investigation.
PulmonologyMedicine-Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
CiteScore
14.30
自引率
5.10%
发文量
159
审稿时长
19 days
期刊介绍:
Pulmonology (previously Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia) is the official journal of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia/SPP). The journal publishes 6 issues per year and focuses on respiratory system diseases in adults and clinical research. It accepts various types of articles including peer-reviewed original articles, review articles, editorials, and opinion articles. The journal is published in English and is freely accessible through its website, as well as Medline and other databases. It is indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded, Journal of Citation Reports, Index Medicus/MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE/Excerpta Medica.