title: Association of E2F3 expression with clinicopathological features of Wilms' tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The transcription factor E2F3 plays an important role in controlling cell cycle progression and proliferation, and is overexpressed in various human cancers. The present study was undertaken to examine the expression of E2F3 and investigate its relevance in clinical and pathological features of pediatric Wilms' tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six Wilms' tumor samples collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University underwent immunohistochemical staining for E2F3 protein expression by measuring the percentage of E2F3-positive cells and integrated optical density (IOD), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for E2F3 mRNA expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of E2F3 protein and mRNA was detectable in all the Wilms' tumor samples with big variations (The average percentage of positive cells was 30.2%±23.5%, range 0.3%-75.6%; average IOD was 6.61×10(4)±3.92×10(4), range 2.32×10(4)-13.84×10(4); average relative mRNA unit was 0.54±0.38, range 0.03-1.31), but not in fetal kidney tissues. Wilms' tumors with aggressive features, such as higher stage, unfavorable histology and higher risk level, expressed higher levels of E2F3 protein and mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary data indicate that E2F3 is frequently expressed in pediatric Wilms' tumors examined in the present study. E2F3 expression may be associated with Wilms' tumors, particularly those that have more aggressive features. However, further studies are needed to validate these pilot observations and to clarify the functional and mechanistic significance of this association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050699:E2F3 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D050699:E2F3 Transcription Factor; C098319:E2F3 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm
keywords: Clinical stage; E2F3; Histology; Wilms’ tumor