Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of telomerase activity particularly in terms of prognostic impact in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The exfoliated cells from fibrobronchoscopic brushing were studied using polymerase chain reaction based on a telomerase repeat amplification protocal assay. Samples were taken from 60 NSCLC and 20 pulmonary infection cases. Results: Telomerase activity was detected in 53 of 60(88.3%) NSCLC specimens from the lesion side and in 5 of 25(20.0%) from the contralateral side but only in 2 of 20 pulmonary infection samples (P<0.05). The telomerase activity levels in NSCLC (medium 0.109) were significantly higher than those in pulmonary infection (medium 0.018, U=4.95, P<0.05). The telomerase activity levels in tumor staged IIIb-IV (medium 0.173) were higher than those in staged I-IIIa (medium 0.132, U=1.899, P<0.05). Conclusion: Telomerase activity is one of the most important marker in patients with NSCLC. Telomerase activity increases with the advance of tumor stage and can be used as a prognostic indicator of advanced NSCLC.
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