Increased telomerase activity is associated with shorter survival in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia

摘要: BACKGROUND Significantly elevated telomerase activity (TA) has been found in samples from patients with many malignant hematologic diseases. However, the impact of TA on course chronic phase myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) is unknown. METHODS Using a modified polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, authors measured bone marrow 93 CP-CML and correlated it patient characteristics survival. also was 29 accelerated/blastic CML. RESULTS Patients CML were to have somewhat higher levels compared (P = 0.07). Among CP-CML, those high progressed advanced stages disease sooner 0.05) had significantly shorter survival 0.04) than low TA. No correlation between age, hemoglobin, platelet leukocyte counts, percentage peripheral or blasts basophils, cellularity. On multivariate analysis, retained its significance as factor associated 0.02). CONCLUSIONS The current study data suggest that plays role propagation potential inhibitors should be explored, even early disease. Cancer 2003;97:1248–52. © 2003 American Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11217