title: Aberrant expression of the growth factor Wnt-5A in human malignancy.
abstract: The Wnt-5A gene codes for a secreted cysteine-rich growth factor that mediates cell to cell signaling via a paracrine mechanism during development and ontogeny. We have recently determine the genomic organization and chromosomal mapping of the human Wnt-5A, and observed distinct patterns of expression in developing human embryos. In this report, we have performed a detailed expression analysis of 100 adult human tissues and tumors and 10 human cell lines. Our data show a widespread expression of Wnt-5A in adult tissues and cells, and aberrant mRNA levels in lungs, breast, and prostate carcinomas and in melanomas. The up-regulation of Wnt-5A in human malignancy was not due to either gene rearrangement or amplification. These findings document an abnormal expression of this growth factor in malignancy and implicate Wnt-5A in the genesis of human cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Iozzo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eichstetter
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Danielson
mesh_terms: D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005796:Genes; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C085389:WNT5A protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein