Correlating telomerase activity levels with human neuroblastoma outcomes

Eiso Hiyama, Keiko Hiyama, Takashi Yokoyama, Yuichiro Matsuura, Mieczyslaw A. Piatyszek, Jerry W. Shay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

637 Scopus citations

Abstract

Telomerase activity was analysed in 100 neuroblastoma cases. Although telomerase activity was not detected in normal adrenal tissues or benign ganglioneuromas, almost all neuroblastomas (94%) did express it, suggesting an important role for telomerase in neuroblastoma development. Neuroblastomas with high telomerase activity had other genetic changes (for example, N-myc amplification) and an unfavourable prognosis, whereas tumours with low telomerase activity were devoid of such genetic alterations and were associated with a favourable prognosis. Three neuroblastomas lacking telomerase activity regressed (stage IVS). Thus telomerase expression may be required as a critical step in the multigenetic process of tumorigenesis, and two different pathways may exist for the development of neuroblastoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)249-255
Number of pages7
JournalNature medicine
Volume1
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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