DISEASES PAGE

Telomerase reverse transcriptase seems to play a crucial role in cancer-related diseases. We will discuss two studies which led to this conclusion.

Bronchogenic Carcinomas (Lung Cancers):

Lung cancers comprise a variety of diseases, and account for the most cancer-related deaths in men, and have even surpassed breast cancer in cancer-related deaths in women, across the world.¹⁰ They are usually divided into two main categories:

One study analyzed the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and TERT expression in bronchial mucosa of heavy smokers, 122 specimens from 81 smokers for LOH and 87 smokers for TERT expression.¹¹ Among the specimens were those with bronchogenic carcinoma. The study found that LOH and TERT expression occurred more frequently in those specimens with bronchogenic carcinoma.¹¹ This led the researchers to conclude that LOH and TERT expression were early signs of lung carcinogenesis.¹¹

Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer:

Human papillomavirus infection greatly increases the risk of cervical cancer, in which cancer cells form in the cervix after a gradual change from normal cells to malignant (cancerous) cells, a process known as dysplasia.¹² HPV infection is mainly spread through sexual contact, and is the main cause of cervical cancer, but it is hardly the only one. Other causes include “giving birth to many children,” having several sexual partners and smoking cigarettes (lung cancer is not the only adverse health risk from smoking cigarettes).¹²

A study was done to analyze the relationship between the TERT gene expression and HPV in precancerous cervical lesions, using normal, atypical squamous epithelial cells, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSILs), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSILs).¹³ Results indicated that significant increases in TERT expression occurred as the extent of cervical dysplasia increased, in addition to an increase in viral load, a finding which led the researchers to conclude that a high correlation exists between HPV and TERT expression.¹³

Ó 2007 Faiz Siddiqui