Table 1. The clinical data of the patients.
| Primary site (number) | Median age, years (minimum–maximum) | Male (%) | Stage | Histology | Mean (s.d.) | Median (minimum–maximum) | % of patients with high hTERT mRNAa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladder (7) | 74 (55–84) | 100% | III=14.3% IV=85.7% | SCC=14.3% TCC=85.7% | 18.3 (29.8) | 3 (0.8–79.6) | 42.86 |
| Breast (16) | 60.5 (26–83) | 0% | Unk=6.2% II=6.2% III=12.6% IV=75% | Carcinoma, NOS=6.2% Adenocarcinoma=93.8% | 9.7 (19.2) | 11.5 (0.1–55.9) | 62.50 |
| CLL (9) | 75 (61–80) | 66.7% | — | — | 10.9 (13.4) | 9 (0.1–41.7) | 55.56 |
| CRC (17) | 70 (42–85) | 29.4% | III=5.9% IV=94.1% | Adenocarcinoma=100% | 14.9 (15.3) | 13.2 (0.3–53) | 70.59 |
| Endometrium and ovary (4) | 68 (65–77) | 0% | III=50% IV=50% | Adenocarcinoma=100% | 12.2 (16.4) | 5.6 (1.2–36.3) | 50.00 |
| Gastric and oesophagus (7) | 71 (62–81) | 42.6% | Unk=14.3% II=14.3% III=28.5% IV=42.9% | SCC=14.3% Adenocarcinoma=85.7% | 9.2 (9.2) | 7.1 (0.04–27.1) | 71.43 |
| Head and neck (5) | 55 (43–73) | 80% | III=40% IV=60% | Carcinoma, NOS=20% SCC=80% | 10.6 (10.2) | 11 (0.9–26.8) | 60.00 |
| Kidney (1) | 62 | 100% | IV=100% | RCC=100% | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.00 |
| Acute leukaemia (12) | 67 (34–87) | 75% | — | ALL=16.7% AML=83.3% | 6.4 (9.9) | 1 (0.1–34.2) | 41.67 |
| Lung (19) | 64 (38–83) | 52.6% | I=5.3% III=15.8% IV=78.9% | Carcinoma, NOS=10.5% SCC=5.3% Adenocarcinoma=68.4% Small cell carcinoma=15.8% | 15.9 (20.3) | 10.3 (0.04–83.6) | 63.16 |
| Lymphoma (11) | 42 (19–84) | 63.6% | Unk=54.5% I=9.1% IV=36.4% | HL=18.2% DLBCL=27.3 Other=54.5% | 26.7 (41.2) | 4 (0.1–121.9) | 63.64 |
| Melanoma (2) | 55 (53–57) | 50% | III=50% IV=50% | Melanoma=100% | 26.5 (47.6) | 36.5 (2.9–70.2) | 50.00 |
| Multiple myeloma (3) | 74 (51–80) | 66.7% | — | — | 3.2 (2.6) | 4.5 (0.2–4.9) | 66.67 |
| Otherb (5) | 43 (32–58) | 80% | II=20% IV=80% | SCC=20% Adenocarcinoma=40% Other=40% | 10.5 (6.2) | 13.9 (0.4–14.7) | 80.00 |
| Pancreas and biliary tract (12) | 66.5 (51–91) | 33.3% | Unk=8.3% III=8.3% IV=83.4% | Carcinoma, NOS=25% Adenocarcinoma=75% | 12.2 (20.6) | 3.9 (0.2–72.9) | 58.33 |
| Prostate (3) | 81 (77–90) | 100% | IV=100% | Adenocarcinoma=100% | 0.9 (0.9) | 0.67 (0.2–1.9) | 0.00 |
Abbreviations: ALL, acute lymphocytic leukaemia; AML=acute myelocytic leukaemia; CLL=chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; CRC=colorectal cancer; DLBCL=diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; HL=Hodgkin’s lymphoma; NOS=not otherwise specified; RCC=renal cell carcinoma; RQ=relative quantification; SCC=squamous cell carcinoma; TCC=transitional cell carcinoma; Unk.=unknown.
a
High hTERT mRNA levels refer to RQ levels that are 3 or higher.
b
Other tumours included: cervix squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, testicular germ cell tumour and unknown primary.