title: Clinicopathological significance of WT1 expression in ovarian cancer: a possible accelerator of tumor progression in serous adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Recently, oncogenic potential of the WT1 gene has been proposed in some human solid tumors and leukemias. Although previous studies have shown the frequent expression of the WT1 protein in ovarian serous adenocarcinomas (OSAs), its clinicopathologic significance is still unclear. We immunohistochemically examined the expression status of WT1 in 119 OSAs and analyzed the correlation of the intensity of WT1 immunoreactivity with the level of WT1 mRNA expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, clinicopathologic variables, expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Ki-67 labeling index (LI). Of 119 OSAs, nuclear WT1 immunoreactivity was positive in 99 (83%), of which 44 (44%) and 55 (56%) exhibited high and low WT1 immunoreactivities, respectively. The quantitative WT1 mRNA levels were significantly correlated with the intensity of WT1 immunoreactivity (P < 0.05). In comparison with WT1-negative OSAs, the WT1-positive OSAs showed a higher grade (P = 0.007), advanced stage (P = 0.018), and higher Ki-67 LI (P < 0.001). Additionally, high WT1 immunoreactivity was correlated with a higher grade (P = 0.003), Ki-67 LI (P = 0.012), Bcl-2 expression (P = 0.003), and poorer patient outcome (5-year survival, 36.5 vs 63.8%, P = 0.008 by log-rank test). The WT1 protein may be an accelerator of the progression of OSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Pathology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.
authors.forename: Sohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Tsunekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kudoh
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: Johji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inazawa
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsubara
mesh_terms: D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025721:WT1 Proteins