title: Overexpression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in esophageal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Diagnostic Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-7, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oji
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Sakie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abeno
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikeba
authors.forename: Takushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanato
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tanyarat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jomgeow
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirakata
authors.forename: Sumiyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosen
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aozasa
authors.forename: Morito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monden
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025721:WT1 Proteins