title: Prognostic significance of WT1 expression in soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare. We evaluated the WT1 protein expression level in various types of STS and elucidated the value of WT1 as a prognostic factor and a possible therapeutic target.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining for WT1 was performed in 87 cases of STS using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks. The correlation between WT1 expression and clinicopathological factors was analyzed. Survival analysis was conducted in 67 patients. We assessed the validity of WT1 immunohistochemistry as an index of WT1 protein expression using Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WT1 expression was noted in 47 cases (54.0%). Most rhabdomyosarcomas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors showed WT1 expression (91.7% and 71.4%, respectively; P = 0.005). WT1 expression was related to higher FNCLCC histologic grade and AJCC tumor stage. In the group with high grade STS, strong WT1 expression was correlated with better survival (P = 0.025). The immunohistochemical results were correlated quantitatively with the staining score and the concentration of the Western blot band.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that various types of STS show positive immunostaining for WT1 and that WT1 expression has a prognostic significance. So STS should be considered candidates for WT1 peptide--based immunotherapy.
authors.forename: Ahrong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyungbin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jee Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do Youn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mee Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Sol
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Republic of Korea. kuchoi@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung Un
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jeung Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D025721:WT1 Proteins