Expression And Clinical Significance Of The Human Telomerase Gene In Cytologic Specimens Of Cervix

Objective To investigate the genomic amplification of the human telomerase gene (hTERC) in the cytologic specimens of cervix with dualcolor interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and evaluate its role in screening of cervical lesions.To evaluate the prospect of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in screening of cervical lesions in future. Methods The fluorescence signal of cytologic samples of cervix were detected by using interphase FISH inchromosome enumeration doublecolor DNA aprobes TERC. According to histology biopsy, 117 Pap smears divided into normal (n=20), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN,n= 78), carcinomas of the cervix (n=19), including 68 cases with HPV examination ,in which 42 cases were positive and 26 cases were inpositive. Results None normal samples revealed copy number increases of 3q,while 13.79% of the CINâ… ,51.16% of the CINâ…¡,60.71% of the CINâ…¢lesions and 100% of the cervical cancer showed extra copies of 3q. hTERC gene copy numbers in CINâ…¡,CINâ…¢and cervical cancer were significantly higher than that in CINâ… and nomal lesion (P<0.05),wich were not obviously between CINâ… and nomal lesion (P>0.05). The percentage of multiple 3q signals increased with the severity of the cytologic interpretation (P<0.05). In CINâ…¡and above lesions,the sensitivity of our test for predicting progression was 69.12% (47/68) and the specificity was 91.84% (5/49).Genomic amplification of hTERC was found in 0%(0/20)of normal specimens,33.33%(11/35) of ASCUS,54.93%(13/31) of LSIL, 93.33%(15/16) of HSIL and 100.00%(5/5) of cervical cancer. The percentage of multiple 3q signals increased with the severity of the cytologic interpretation (P<0.05).Amplification of hTERC gene in 42 cases with HPV infected was significant more than 26 cases without HPV infection, 57.14% (24/42) vs. 26.92% (7/26), (P<0.05). From normal to cervical cancer,the increasing gene copy numbers of TERC is in company with the predominantly integration of high-risk HPV,which shows obvious relevance (r=0.272,P<0.05).Conclusion Application of our probe set may provide an objective genetic test for the assessment of cells in Pap smears and serves as a screening testmarker for CINâ…¡and above lesions,which may help to determine the progressive potential of individual lesions. Amplification of hTERC gene on chromosome 3 may associate with severity of cervical disorders and HPV infection. By detecting hTERC gene amplification to screen for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions,FISH technology shows a higher sensitivity and specificity.