RESUMO
OBJECTIVE To explore the predictive value of human telomerase RNA gene component(hTERC) gene amplification and high-risk human papilomavirus(HR-HPV) testing in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) as a marker for early diagnosis of cervix carcinoma.METHODS Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) was used to detect the amplification of hTERC of cervical epithelial cells in 72 cases.By using hybrid capture 2(HC-2),two types of the HR-HPV DNA(HPV16/18) of each case were detected.Then,the results were compared with the pathologic diagnosis.The dual-color probe we used was GLP TERC/CSP 3.HeLa cells and lymphocytes from normal marrow were the positive control,while the cervical specimens from healthy outpatients were the negative control.RESULTS hTERC Gene amplification of specimens was tested in 72 cases,the positive amplification rate of hTERC gene in the cervicitis/CINⅠgroup and normal,compared to the cervical carcinomas(100%) and CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ(68.75%),which showed a significant difference.The rates in CINⅡ and CINⅢ were 60.00% and 83.33%,respectively,which showed a significant difference compared with normal and CINⅠ/inflammation groups.hTERC gene amplification was positive in both HeLa cells and lymphocytes from normal marrow and HC-2 testing was positive in 32 cases of patients containing 11 cases of CINⅡ/Ⅲ,3 cases of cervical cancer,18 cases of cervicitis/CIN1 diagnosed.The positive predictive value(PPV) and specificity(Sp) of hTERC for the high-grade CIN was significantly higher than the PPV and Sp of HC-2 HR-HPV testing.CONCLUSIONS hTERC Gene involves in the progression and occurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous carcinoma.As a marker for early diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous carcinoma,the FISH method for hTERC gene is more reliable to differentiate the malignant diseases from the benign ones in cervixes than HC-2 HR-HPV DNA testing.The combined detection of HR-HPV and hTERC gene will provide more effective and suitable management to enhance the early diagnosis rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous carcinoma.