Differential hTERT mRNA processing between young and older glioma patients

The amplification of hTERT was detected in glioma tissues, although telomerase activity was not always found within these specimens. The aim of this study was to correlate the level of hTERT transcription with telomerase activity in two glioma age groups. hTERT was significantly transcribed at similar copy numbers in both age groups. However, these mRNAs translated to telomerase in 100% of the young compared to only 25% of the older patients. While hTERT transcription correlated directly to telomerase protein level and activity, as well as longer telomeres in the young group, such correlations were missing in the older group.