Serum hTERT Level as Sensitive Biomarker With Prognostic Implications in Breast, Lung, Gastric and Liver Cancers

ABSTRACT

@#Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) plays an important role in telomere restitution and gene regulation. Evidences suggest that hTERT is linked with the risk and progression of several types of malignancies. Detection of hTERT mRNA levels, as one of tumor markers, may reflect the tumor burden and the clinical status of the patient. Present paper emphasizes the potency of hTERT mRNA detection in serum as a sensitive tumor biomarker in different types of cancer. Detection of serum hTERT mRNA levels has been found highly sensitive and specific for varied cancers. A number of reports reflect its superiority to other conventional tumor markers including alfa-fetoprotein, EGFR, lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP and Des-gamma carboxy prothrombin. Serum hTERT has been found linked with the risk and progression of different cancer types. hTERT levels in combination with other tumor markers may be used to improve cancer detection, tumor size and level of cancer progression.