Objective  To study of relationship of the mRNA expression of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1) and the activity of telomerase with the incidence of gastric carcinoma. Methods  Lesioned gastric mucosal tissues and the corresponding normal tissues from 30 cases of gastric cancer

30 cases of moderate or severe atypical hyperplasia

and 30 cases of intestinal metaplasia were collected in this study. The expression of POT1 mRNA was detected with real time-PCR and the activity of telomerase was examed with TRAP-ELISA. Results  Real time-PCR analysis showed that POT1 expression was increased in the gastric carcinoma tissues compared with the paracancerous normal mucosal tissues

increased in the severe atypical hyperplasia than in the corresponding normal tissues

but there was no difference between intestinal metaplasia tissues and normal tissues. The activity of telomerase in the advanced gastric tumors and severe atypical hyperplasia was significantly higher than that in intestinal metaplasia tissues and normal gastric mucosal tissues. However no obvious difference was found in the activity in gastric tumors and severe atypical hyperplasia with intestinal metaplasia tissues and normal gastric mucosal tissues. Conclusion  Although the activity of telomerase in gastric cancer and severe atypical hyperplasia is significantly higher than that in normal and intestinal metaplasia tissues

POT1 mRNA has no relationship with this change.