title: Infrequent Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) methylation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The Wnt pathway has been shown recently, to be activated in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This is the first study to examine the role of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) methylation in the pathogenesis of haematolymphoid malignancies. Wif-1, a putative tumor suppressor, is a soluble negative regulator of the Wnt pathway activated in CLL. We studied the role of methylation of Wif-1 in 43 Chinese patients with CLL. At diagnosis, Wif-1 methylation was detected in 5/43 (11.6%) CLL marrow samples. Wif-1 methylation occurred more frequently in patients with advanced age (p = 0.059) but there was no correlation between Wif-1 methylation and sex, lymphocyte count and Rai stage at diagnosis. In conclusion, Wif-1 is infrequently methylated in CLL. Other factors leading to activation of the Wnt pathway warrant further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. jcschim@hku.hk
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chim
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C485569:WIF1 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins