Overexpression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas

Cancer Sci. 2003 Mar;94(3):271-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2003.tb01432.x.

Abstract

The expression levels of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 were examined in 36 cases of various types of human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). They included 12 malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH), 3 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), 6 synovial sarcomas (SyS), 4 myxoid liposarcomas (MyLS), one angiosarcoma (AGS), one clear cell sarcoma (CCS), and 9 osteosarcomas (OS). Eleven (92%) of 12 MFH, 2 (67%) of 3 MPNST, all (100%) of 6 SyS, 2 (50%) of 4 MyLS, one AGS, one CCS, and 5 (56%) of 9 OS cases overexpressed WT1 in the range of 1.4 x 10(-3)-3.9 x 10(-1) levels (WT1 expression level in K562 leukemic cells was defined as 1.0). Thus, 28 (78%) out of 36 various types of human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas overexpressed the WT1 gene. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for WT1 protein in all of 4 cases (one case each of MFH, MyLS, AGS and OS) with WT1 gene overexpression detected by RT-PCR analysis, demonstrating clearly that WT1 was expressed at the protein level in various types of human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. The direct sequencing analysis of the WT1 genomic DNA showed no mutations in any of 10 exons of the WT1 gene in 8 different sarcoma samples (3 MFH, one SyS, one MyLS, one AGS, and 2 OS). The present study demonstrates that various types of human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas frequently overexpress the wild-type WT1 gene, suggesting an important role of the wild-type WT1 gene in tumorigenesis of various types of human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Neoplasms / classification
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA Primers
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Genes, Wilms Tumor*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / isolation & purification
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sarcoma / classification
  • Sarcoma / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • WT1 Proteins / analysis
  • WT1 Proteins / genetics*
  • Wilms Tumor / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • WT1 Proteins