hTERT expression as a potential diagnostic marker.

Cervical cancer is the second type of women cancers, most cases being reported in the developing countries where it represents the main cause for mortality in women. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of hTERT expression levels in cervical carcinogenesis, in each type of cytological diagnostic group (normal/inflammatory, ASCUS, LSIL, HSIL, cancer groups) like potential diagnostic marker. Methods: The smears obtained from 50 women with/without suggestive HPV infection pathology were cytological investigated. The viral testing was based on the presence of HPV DNA using the IINNOLIPA kit and semi-quantitative expression levels of hTERT were estimated in RT-PCR. Results: HPV was present in 84% of the examined cases, but only in 40.48% of them hTERT expression was observed. hTERT mRNA was detected in 17.65% cytologically normal/inflammatory patients, in 30% patients with ASCUS, 61.50% patients presenting LSIL and 70% patients with HSIL/cancer. hTERT mRNA expression was significantly increased in LSIL (p = 0.035) and HSIL/cancer (p=0.0044) as compared with normal group, but hTERT expression in ASCUS patients group does not present statistical significance as compared with the normal group (p=0.37). The association between the expressions of hTERT, the presence of hrHPV as well as dysplasia grade suggests that the hTERT activation may be a central mechanism by which HPV infections lead to malignant transformation. Analysis of hTERT expression can be used in diagnosis to decrease the false-negative cytology tests but only as an adjuvant, requiring correlation with the results of morphological feature. Keyword: diagnostic marker, papillomavirus, hTERT