The advantage of an in situ TRAP assay for the detection of telomerase activity using bronchial washings obtained from lung cancer patients
Yahata, N.; Ohyashiki, K.; Kato, H.; Toyama, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 56(5): 1272-1277
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 9613136 Document Number: 491817
In most previous reports telomerase activity in lung cancer patients has been detected using tissue extracts. We have developed a semiquantitative fluorescence-based TRAP assay using fluorescence-end-labeling primers. Moreover, we also developed an in situ TRAP assay that detects telomerase activity at the cellular level. Thus, using these TRAP assays, we can detect telomerase activity in lung cancer cells obtained from bronchial washings. A high incidence of lung cancer patients with class I-III cytology had detectable telomerase activity, thus, a combination of a cell extract based. TRAP assay and an in situ TRAP assay may provide additive information to cytology for the diagnosis of lung cancer.