Infrequent Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) methylation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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.
Chim
C S
CS
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. jcschim@hku.hk
Fung
T K
TK
Wong
K F
KF
Lau
J S
JS
Liang
R
R
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
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C485569:WIF1 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins