Cadherins in Wilms' tumor: E-cadherin expression despite absence of WT1.
Loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 16q occurs in 17-25% of Wilms' tumors. Two cadherin genes mapping to 16q22 were chosen as candidate gens: E-CAD, encoding epithelial cadherin, because it is involved in kidney development and it was recently reported to be a WT1 target; and KSP-CAD because it encodes a kidney-specific cadherin. By RT-PCR analysis in a series of 39 Wilms' tumors, we identified a very low expression of E-CAD and KSP-CAD in 72% and 95% of the tumors, respectively. To ascertain whether down-expression of these genes could be related to WT1 alterations in tumors, we looked for a relationship between WT1 and CAD expression. Our data suggest (i) the existence of alternative mechanisms for regulating E-CAD expression, and (ii) that E-CAD does not belong to the WT1 pathway that is altered in Wilms' tumorigenesis.
Baudry
Dominique
D
INSERM U383, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
Cabanis
Marie-Odile
MO
Patte
Catherine
C
Zucker
Jean-Michel
JM
Pein
François
F
Fournet
Jean-Christophe
JC
Sarnacki
Sabine
S
Junien
Claudine
C
Jeanpierre
Cécile
C
D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D025721:WT1 Proteins