Telomerase Activity in Canine Mammary Tumor Tissues Using PCR-ELISA

The present study was undertaken to determine the presence of telomerase activity in tumor tissues and tumor adjacent tissue by combined PCR-ELISA assay. Canine mammary tumors tissues were processed for protein extraction and used for TRAP (Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol assay). The amplified products were electrophoresed on 20% non-denaturing Polyacrylamide gel along with 10 bp ladder. The presence of 6 base repeats starting from 50 nucleotides was observed in positive control and telomerase positive extracts whereas it was found to be absent in telomerase negative extracts and heat treated samples. TRAP products were analysed by ELISA. Out of 31 dog tumor samples, 27(87%) samples were telomerase positive. Hence, telomerase serve as an efficient biomarker for diagnosis of tumor and it may serve as a target for antitumor chemotherapy.