Changes in telomerase activity due to alternative splicing of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in colorectal cancer

Jeung,Hei  Cheul; Rha,Sun  Young; Shin,Sang  Joon; Ahn,Joong  Bae; Park,Kyu  Hyun; Kim,Tae  Soo; Kim,Jin  Ju; Roh,Jae  Kyung; Chung,Hyun  Cheol

doi:10.3892/ol.2017.6438

Changes in telomerase activity due to alternative splicing of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in colorectal cancer

Authors:
- Hei Cheul Jeung
- Sun Young Rha
- Sang Joon Shin
- Joong Bae Ahn
- Kyu Hyun Park
- Tae Soo Kim
- Jin Ju Kim
- Jae Kyung Roh
- Hyun Cheol Chung
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Affiliations: Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273, Republic of Korea, Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
Published online on: June 21, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6438
Pages: 2385-2392

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Abstract

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression level may not always correlate with telomerase activity. The present study analyzed hTERT splicing patterns with respect to hTERT and telomerase activity in colorectal cancer. Telomerase activity was determined by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, and spliced variants of hTERT were identified by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction in 40 colorectal cancer tissue samples. In the lower range of telomerase activity (0‑100 units), the percentage of the β variant decreased with the increment in telomerase activity, whereas in the higher range of telomerase activity (>100 units), total hTERT expression level revealed a trend toward increment. There was a positive correlation between the full‑length variant level and β variant level. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between the percentage of the full‑length variant and β variant. Tumor‑node‑metastasis stage was the strongest prognostic factor in multivariate analysis and the percentage of the full‑length variant was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Telomerase activity was primarily altered with changes in alternative splicing of the full‑length and β variants of hTERT in colorectal cancer.

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