Detection of human telomerase RNA component gene by fluorescent in situ hybridization for screening of cervical lesions

Abstract

To investigate the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection of human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) gene amplification in screening of cervical lesions. A total of 146 post-thinPrep cytology test (TCT) samples were analyzed using FISH by two-color interphase probe targeting hTERC gene at chromosome 3q26 and the data were compared with the cytological and histological results. FISH analysis was successful in 120 cases (20 cases of normal and 100 abnormal cases by TCT). Gene amplification of hTERC by FISH had a positive correlation with the cytological (r = 0.465, P < 0.01) and histological grade results (r = 0.610, P < 0.01). Extra copies of hTERC were seen in 28.6% (6/21) of CINI, 61.1% (11/18) of CINII, 75.0% (18/24) of CINIII and 91.7%(22/24) of squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. None (0/13) of the inflammation cases showed hTERC amplification. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting high grade lesions by FISH were 77.3% (51/66) and 82.4% (28/34); and the positive and negative predictive values were 89.5% and 65.1%, respectively. The rate of hTERC gene gain in high grade lesions was significantly higher than that in the low grade lesions (χ(2) = 32.550, P < 0.01). Combined with the high copy numbers, the sensitivity for detecting high grade lesions was increased to 81.2%. Detection of hTERC gene amplification by FISH improves the screening efficiency of high-risk cervical epithelial lesions. The presence of high copy numbers of hTERC correlates with the presence of high grade cervical dysplasia.