We have investigated the significance of telomerase activity (TA) and telomere length (TL) in @entity1582 ( @entity1582 ). The analyses were undertaken on CD138+ @entity1582 cells isolated from the marrow of 183 @entity1 either at diagnosis or in relapse. There was heterogeneity in telomerase expression; 36% of the @entity1 had TA levels comparable to those detected in normal plasma cells, and 13% of @entity1 had levels 1- to 4-fold greater than in a @entity521 cell line control. The TL of @entity1582 cells was significantly shorter than that of the @entity1 ' own leukocytes; in 25% of @entity1 , the TL measured less than 4.0 kbp. Analysis of TL distribution indicated selective TA-mediated stabilization of shorter telomeres when mean TL fell below 5.5 kbp. Unusually long (10.8-15.0 kbp) telomeres were observed in 7 @entity1 , and low TA was observed in 5 of 7 @entity1 , suggesting the operation of a TA-independent pathway of telomere stabilization. A strong negative correlation existed between TA and TL or platelet count. TL negatively correlated with age and with @entity650 ( @entity650 ) and @entity2262 levels. Various @entity2008 , including those associated with poor prognosis, strongly correlated with TA and, to a lesser extent, with short TL. High TA and short TL defined a subgroup of @entity1 with poor prognosis. At 1 year the survival rate in @entity1 with TA levels lower than 25% of @entity521 control and TL greater than 5.5 kbp was 82%, whereas in @entity1 with higher TA and shorter TL the survival rate was 63% (P =.004). The 2-year survival rate for @entity1 with TA levels lower than 25% was 81%, and it was 52% in those with higher TA levels (P <.0001).

Telomerase and telomere length in XXXX : correlations with disease heterogeneity, cytogenetic status, and overall survival.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity650 :: ('3569', 'Gene') :: ['IL-6', 'interleukin-6'] @entity2262 :: ('567', 'Gene') :: ['beta2-microglobulin'] @entity1582 :: ('MESH:D009101', 'Disease') :: ['multiple myeloma', 'MM'] @entity521 :: ('MESH:D009447', 'Disease') :: ['neuroblastoma'] @entity2008 :: ('MESH:D002869', 'Disease') :: ['cytogenetic abnormalities']
@entity1582 :: (MESH:D009101,Disease) :: ['multiple myeloma']
