Cytoplasmic overexpression of WT-1 in gastrointestinal stromal tumor and other soft tissue tumors.
The Wilms tumor 1 (WT-1) is a zinc finger transcription factor essential for the development of the kidneys and gonads. Alterations in the WT-1 gene were observed in several tumor types. Depending on the tumor types, WT-1 might function as a tumor suppressor or as a survival factor. WT-1 immunoreactivity in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was currently not known. We, therefore, investigated the expression of WT-1 in GIST in comparison to other soft tissue tumors by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. We found that all 28 cases (100%) of GIST are positive for WT-1, diffusely (>75%, 3+) in 13 (46.4%) cases, moderately (26% to 75%, 2+) in 13 (46.4%) cases, and focally (5% to 25%, 1+) in 2 (7.2%) cases. The staining intensity is usually strong. The staining pattern is predominantly cytoplasmic with rare scattered nuclear staining. Similar but less extensive cytoplasmic WT-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 16 of 25 (64%) uterine leiomyosarcoma and 14 of 24 (58.3%) soft tissue leiomyosarcoma. Rare scattered nuclear staining was also seen in uterine leiomyosarcoma and soft tissue leiomyosarcoma, which showed positive cytoplasmic WT-1 reactivity. Only 1 of the 10 solitary fibrous tumors showed weak cytoplasmic WT-1 positivity (10%). No WT-1 staining was detected in 6 cases of fibromatosis. The significance of cytoplasmic expression of WT-1 in GIST and some smooth muscle tumors is unclear and warrant further investigation. The potential roles of WT-1 in the diagnosis and treatment of GIST were discussed.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19094, USA. bingz@uphs.upenn.edu
Zhanyong
Z
Bing
Theresa L
TL
Pasha
Geza
G
Acs
Paul J
PJ
Zhang
D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D025721:WT1 Proteins