Precancerous hepatic nodules had significant levels of telomerase activity determined by sensitive quantitation using a hybridization protection assay

Abstract

TRAP/HPA was sensitive enough to distinguish the telomerase activity in precancerous hepatic nodules from that in other lesions. Telomerase activity in precancerous hepatic nodules was higher than that in nontumorous hepatic tissues. However, the activity in precancerous hepatic nodules was lower than that in well-differentiated HCCs, although statistically not significant. The authors suggest that precancerous hepatic nodules with telomerase activity above the diagnostic cutoff level (twice the highest activity in nontumorous hepatic tissues, or the 2 cell equivalent activity of MKN-1) should be treated as malignancy.