Overexpression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is overexpressed in various kinds of solid cancers. However, it remains unclear whether WT1 is expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Expression of the WT1 gene was examined by real-time RT-PCR in 12 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and by immunohistochemistry in 9 of these 12 and another 29.


RESULTS
Real-time RT-PCR showed that the WT1 mRNA was overexpressed in all of the 12 ESCC examined Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the WT1 protein was overexpressed in ESCC cells in 36 (95%) of the 38 examined Furthermore, expression of the WT1 protein was examined in 20 esophageal squamous dysplasia. The WT1 protein was overexpressed in 5 (45%) out of 11 mild dysplasia and in 8 (89%) out of 9 moderate to severe dysplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may indicate an important role of the WT1 gene in the tumorigenesis of ESCC.
Oji
Yusuke
Y
Department of Functional Diagnostic Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-7, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Yano
Masahiko
M
Nakano
Yoko
Y
Abeno
Sakie
S
Nakatsuka
Shin-Ichi
S
Ikeba
Ai
A
Yasuda
Takushi
T
Fujiwara
Yoshiyuki
Y
Takiguchi
Shuji
S
Yamamoto
Hirofumi
H
Fujita
Seiichiro
S
Kanato
Keisuke
K
Ito
Ken
K
Jomgeow
Tanyarat
T
Kawakami
Manabu
M
Tsuboi
Akihiro
A
Shirakata
Toshiaki
T
Nishida
Sumiyuki
S
Hosen
Naoki
N
Oka
Yoshihiro
Y
Aozasa
Katsuyuki
K
Monden
Morito
M
Sugiyama
Haruo
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025721:WT1 Proteins