Objectives: To evaluate the effect of antineoplastic agents on the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) splice variants in MCF-7 cells.
Design And Methods: We have developed a luminometric hybridization assay for hTERT beta plus transcript. MCF-7 cells were isolated before and after treatment with antineoplastic agents.
Background: Telomerase is a general diagnostic and prognostic molecular tumor marker since it is expressed in the majority of human tumors in contrast to most healthy tissues. Alternate splicing of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been shown to affect telomerase activity.
Patients And Methods: We have developed a hybridization assay that selectively detects the hTERT beta-plus transcript.