Open AccessOverexpression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Oji Yusuke,
Inohara Hidenori,
Nakazawa Mitsuhiro,
Nakano Yoko,
Akahani Shiro,
Nakatsuka Shinichi,
Koga Satoko,
Ikeba Ai,
Abeno Sakie,
Honjo Yuichiro,
Yamamoto Yoshifumi,
Iwai Soichi,
Yoshida Kaori,
Oka Yoshihiro,
Ogawa Hiroyasu,
Yoshida Junichi,
Aozasa Katsuyuki,
Kubo Takeshi,
Sugiyama Haruo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2003.tb01477.x
Subject(s) - larynx , carcinogenesis , tongue , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , wilms' tumor , cancer research , immunohistochemistry , biology , gene , tumor suppressor gene , pathology , epidermoid carcinoma , head and neck cancer , carcinoma , cancer , medicine , anatomy , biochemistry
The expression levels of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 were examined in 56 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). They included 4 cases of floor of mouth, 9 of gingiva, 25 of tongue, 10 of oropharynx, 3 of hypopharynx, and 5 larynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All (100%) of 4 cases of floor of mouth, 5 (56%) of 9 gingiva, 17 (68%) of 25 tongue, 8 (80%) of 10 oropharynx, all (100%) of 3 hypopharynx, and all (100%) of 5 larynx SCC overexpressed the WT1 gene in the range of 3.07×10 −4 ‐8.60×10 −1 levels (the WT1 expression level in K562 leukemie cells was defined as 1.0). Thus, 42 (75%) out of 56 cases of HNSCC overexpressed the WT1 gene. The high expression level of the WT1 gene significantly correlated with poor histological tumor differentiation and high tumor stage of HNSCC. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the expression of WT1 protein in 6 cases (one floor of mouth, 2 tongue, 2 oropharynx, and one larynx SCC) with Overexpression of the WT1 gene. The direct sequencing analysis of the WT1 genomic DNA showed no mutations in any of 10 exons of the WT1 gene in 5 different HNSCC. These findings suggest an important role of the wild‐type WT1 gene in the tumorigenesis of HNSCC.