Biomaterial Database

Telomerase activity in human gliomas. 1998

S Le, and J J Zhu, and D C Anthony, and C W Greider, and P M Black

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA.

OBJECTIVE Telomerase activity, which is undetectable in most mature normal tissues, has been identified in many types of human cancers, including neuroblastomas and oligodendrogliomas. These findings suggest that a novel mechanism in addition to activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes may play an important role in tumorigenesis. The goal of the present study was to assess and correlate the telomerase activity in astrocytic gliomas of different grades. METHODS Telomere repeat amplification protocol and Southern blot hybridization with telomere-specific probes were used to detect telomerase activity and to measure terminal restriction fragment length, respectively. RESULTS Telomerase activity was detected in 3 of 9 (33%) low-grade astrocytomas (World Health Organization Grade II), 5 of 11 (45%) anaplastic astrocytomas (World Health Organization Grade III), 36 of 41 (89%) glioblastomas multiforme (World Health Organization Grade IV), 3 of 4 (75%) oligodendrogliomas, and none of 4 normal brain specimens. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that telomerase activity is absent in normal brain tissues while present in most glioma samples (72%). The frequency of such activity increases with malignancy. These results suggest that telomerase activity may be used as a tumor marker and that the activation of telomerase may correlate with initiation and malignant progression of astrocytic tumors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009363	Neoplasm Proteins	Proteins whose abnormal expression (gain or loss) are associated with the development, growth, or progression of NEOPLASMS. Some neoplasm proteins are tumor antigens (ANTIGENS, NEOPLASM), i.e. they induce an immune reaction to their tumor. Many neoplasm proteins have been characterized and are used as tumor markers (BIOMARKERS, TUMOR) when they are detectable in cells and body fluids as monitors for the presence or growth of tumors. Abnormal expression of ONCOGENE PROTEINS is involved in neoplastic transformation, whereas the loss of expression of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PROTEINS is involved with the loss of growth control and progression of the neoplasm.	Proteins, Neoplasm
D009837	Oligodendroglioma	A relatively slow-growing glioma that is derived from oligodendrocytes and tends to occur in the cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, or lateral ventricle. They may present at any age, but are most frequent in the third to fifth decades, with an earlier incidence peak in the first decade. Histologically, these tumors are encapsulated, relatively avascular, and tend to form cysts and microcalcifications. Neoplastic cells tend to have small round nuclei surrounded by unstained nuclei. The tumors may vary from well-differentiated to highly anaplastic forms. (From DeVita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, p2052; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p655)	Oligodendroblastoma,Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Ependymoma,Oligodendroglioma, Adult,Oligodendroglioma, Childhood,Oligodendroglioma, Well-Differentiated,Well-Differentiated Oligodendroglioma,Adult Oligodendroglioma,Adult Oligodendrogliomas,Anaplastic Oligodendrogliomas,Childhood Oligodendroglioma,Childhood Oligodendrogliomas,Mixed Oligodendroglioma Astrocytoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma Ependymoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Ependymomas,Oligodendroblastomas,Oligodendroglioma, Anaplastic,Oligodendroglioma, Well Differentiated,Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytoma, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytomas, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Ependymoma, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Ependymomas, Mixed,Oligodendrogliomas,Oligodendrogliomas, Adult,Oligodendrogliomas, Anaplastic,Oligodendrogliomas, Childhood,Oligodendrogliomas, Well-Differentiated,Well Differentiated Oligodendroglioma,Well-Differentiated Oligodendrogliomas
D010865	Pilot Projects	Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work.	Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D001932	Brain Neoplasms	Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain.	Brain Cancer,Brain Metastases,Brain Tumors,Cancer of Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Tumors,Neoplasms, Intracranial,Benign Neoplasms, Brain,Brain Neoplasm, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Benign,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Primary Malignant,Brain Tumor, Primary,Brain Tumor, Recurrent,Cancer of the Brain,Intracranial Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasms, Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Brain,Neoplasms, Brain, Benign,Neoplasms, Brain, Malignant,Neoplasms, Brain, Primary,Primary Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Tumors,Benign Brain Neoplasm,Benign Brain Neoplasms,Benign Neoplasm, Brain,Brain Benign Neoplasm,Brain Benign Neoplasms,Brain Cancers,Brain Malignant Neoplasm,Brain Malignant Neoplasms,Brain Metastase,Brain Neoplasm,Brain Neoplasm, Benign,Brain Neoplasm, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Primary,Brain Tumor,Brain Tumors, Recurrent,Cancer, Brain,Intracranial Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Intracranial,Primary Brain Neoplasm,Primary Brain Tumor,Primary Brain Tumors,Recurrent Brain Tumor,Recurrent Brain Tumors,Tumor, Brain
D004273	DNA, Neoplasm	DNA present in neoplastic tissue.	Neoplasm DNA
D005909	Glioblastoma	A malignant form of astrocytoma histologically characterized by pleomorphism of cells, nuclear atypia, microhemorrhage, and necrosis. They may arise in any region of the central nervous system, with a predilection for the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, and commissural pathways. Clinical presentation most frequently occurs in the fifth or sixth decade of life with focal neurologic signs or seizures.	Astrocytoma, Grade IV,Giant Cell Glioblastoma,Glioblastoma Multiforme,Astrocytomas, Grade IV,Giant Cell Glioblastomas,Glioblastoma, Giant Cell,Glioblastomas,Glioblastomas, Giant Cell,Grade IV Astrocytoma,Grade IV Astrocytomas
D005910	Glioma	Benign and malignant central nervous system neoplasms derived from glial cells (i.e., astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymocytes). Astrocytes may give rise to astrocytomas (ASTROCYTOMA) or glioblastoma multiforme (see GLIOBLASTOMA). Oligodendrocytes give rise to oligodendrogliomas (OLIGODENDROGLIOMA) and ependymocytes may undergo transformation to become EPENDYMOMA; CHOROID PLEXUS NEOPLASMS; or colloid cysts of the third ventricle. (From Escourolle et al., Manual of Basic Neuropathology, 2nd ed, p21)	Glial Cell Tumors,Malignant Glioma,Mixed Glioma,Glial Cell Tumor,Glioma, Malignant,Glioma, Mixed,Gliomas,Gliomas, Malignant,Gliomas, Mixed,Malignant Gliomas,Mixed Gliomas,Tumor, Glial Cell,Tumors, Glial Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001254	Astrocytoma	Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)	Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell,Glioma, Astrocytic,Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytomas,Anaplastic Astrocytoma,Astrocytoma, Grade I,Astrocytoma, Grade II,Astrocytoma, Grade III,Astrocytoma, Protoplasmic,Astroglioma,Cerebral Astrocytoma,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma,Fibrillary Astrocytoma,Gemistocytic Astrocytoma,Intracranial Astrocytoma,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma,Anaplastic Astrocytomas,Astrocytic Glioma,Astrocytic Gliomas,Astrocytoma, Anaplastic,Astrocytoma, Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Fibrillary,Astrocytoma, Gemistocytic,Astrocytoma, Intracranial,Astrocytoma, Juvenile Pilocytic,Astrocytoma, Pilocytic,Astrocytomas,Astrocytomas, Grade III,Astrogliomas,Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood,Cerebral Astrocytomas,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytomas,Fibrillary Astrocytomas,Gemistocytic Astrocytomas,Gliomas, Astrocytic,Grade I Astrocytoma,Grade I Astrocytomas,Grade II Astrocytoma,Grade II Astrocytomas,Grade III Astrocytoma,Grade III Astrocytomas,Intracranial Astrocytomas,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligoastrocytoma,Mixed Oligoastrocytomas,Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile,Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytomas,Xanthoastrocytoma, Pleomorphic