Characterisation of Blood-derived Exosomal HTERT MRNA Secretion in Cancer Patients: a Potential Pan-cancer Marker

Overview

Journal Br J Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Jun 23

PMID 28641311

Citations 29

Authors

Hadar Goldvaser

Anna Gutkin

Einat Beery

Yonatan Edel

Jardena Nordenberg

Ofir Wolach

Ester Rabizadeh

Orit Uziel

Meir Lahav

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Telomerase (human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)) is considered a hallmark of cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of the detection of hTERT transcripts in serum as a 'pan-cancer' diagnostic method.

Methods: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA levels were determined in serum and serum-derived exosomes from 133 patients with different malignancies and 45 healthy controls. In four patients hTERT mRNA levels were measured in different clinical stages.

Results: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase transcript was absent in all controls and was variably detected in 67.5% of patients with all cancer types. A correlation between hTERT transcript levels and the clinical course was found in several cases.

Conclusions: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA levels may reflect the tumour burden and the clinical status of the patient. In patients with detectable levels, this assay may potentially serve as a diagnostic and follow-up 'pan-cancer' marker. Owing to the large variety of patients and small sample size in each diagnosis, the statistical power is limited and will be explored further in larger groups.

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