Correlation between WT1 expression and cell proliferation in endometrial cancer.
BACKGROUND
The Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is overexpressed in endometrial cancer. Although recent studies have revealed that WT1 is a new prognostic factor, it remains unclear whether WT1 plays a pathophysiological role including cell proliferation.


METHODS
A series of 70 endometrial cancer patients who had undergone a curative resection was studied by immunohistochemistry to determine the correlation between WT1 expression and cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PCNA).


RESULTS
WT1 expression was observed in 64 cases (91%). WT1 expression was associated with advanced FIGO stage (p=0.0228), myometrial invasion (p=0.0114) and high-grade histological differentiation (p=0.0004), indicating up-regulation of WT1 expression with tumor progression. A positive correlation between PCNA labeling index and score of WT1 expression was observed (p=0.0081, rho=0.319).


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that WT1 might regulate cell proliferation in endometrial cancer.
Dohi
Satoshi
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanazawa University, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8641 Japan. satoshi-dohi@y6.dion.ne.jp
Ohno
Satoshi
S
Ohno
Yumiko
Y
Soma
Gen-Ichiro
G
Kyo
Satoru
S
Inoue
Masaki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D025721:WT1 Proteins