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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 249-255 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature medicine |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1995 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology