Kawin LeelawatSurang LeelawatThawee Ratanachu-EkSomboon TrubwongchareonJerasak WannaprasertSaad TripongkarunaSuchart ChantawibulPanadda TepaksornRajavithi HospitalMahidol UniversityRangsit UniversityNational Institutes of Health, Bethesda2018-08-202018-08-202006-07-14World Journal of Gastroenterology. Vol.12, No.26 (2006), 4195-4198100793272-s2.0-33748605027https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/23696Aim: To investigate human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in the serum of cholangiocarcinoma patients. Methods: The serum of thirty three cholangiocarcinoma patients, forty one benign biliary tract disease patients and ten healthy volunteers were collected and analyzed for the expression of hTERT mRNA by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We then examined the correlation between values of serum hTERT mRNA and the pathological staging of cholangiocarcinoma. Results: hTERT mRNA was detected in 28 of 33 (84.85%) of serum obtained from cholangiocarcinoma patients and 9 of 41 (21.9%) of serum obtained from benign biliary tract disease patients. hTERT mRNA was not detected in any serum obtained from healthy volunteers. on the other hand the common tumor marker, CA19-9 was detected in 20 of 33 (60.6%) of serum obtained from cholangiocarcinoma patients and 8 of 41 (19.5%) of serum obtained from benign biliary tract disease patients. However, no correlation was found between the present of serum hTERT mRNA and tumor staging. Conclusion: These results indicate that the detection of circulating hTERT mRNA was identified in almost all cholangiocarcinoma patients. It offers a novel tumor marker, which can be used as a complementary study for diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.3748/wjg.v12.i26.4195