Open AccessOverexpression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in primary astrocytic tumors
Author(s) -
Oji Yusuke,
Suzuki Tsuyoshi,
Nakano Yoko,
Maruno Motohiko,
Nakatsuka Shinichi,
Jomgeow Tanyarat,
Abeno Sakie,
Tatsumi Naoya,
Yokota Asumi,
Aoyagi Sayaka,
Nakazawa Tsutomu,
Ito Ken,
Kanato Keisuke,
Shirakata Toshiaki,
Nishida Sumiyuki,
Hosen Naoki,
Kawakami Manabu,
Tsuboi Akihiro,
Oka Yoshihiro,
Aozasa Katsuyuki,
Yoshimine Toshiki,
Sugiyama Haruo
Publication year - 2004
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.1349-7006.2004.tb02188.x
Subject(s) - wilms' tumor , immunohistochemistry , carcinogenesis , messenger rna , gene , biology , gene expression , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , polymerase chain reaction , real time polymerase chain reaction , pathology , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , medicine , genetics
Expression of the Wilms' tumor gene WT1 in primary astrocytic tumors was examined using a quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) or immunohistochemistry. Real‐time RT‐PCR showed that WT1 mRNA was expressed at various levels in all of the 25 astrocytic tumors examined. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that WT1 protein was expressed in 5 of 6 low‐grade astrocytic tumors (grade l‐ll) and all of 18 high‐grade ones (grade III‐IV), and that expression levels of WT1 protein in high‐grade tumors were significantly higher than those in low‐grade ones. WT1 protein was not detected in the normal glial cells contained in the tumor specimens. Furthermore, treatment with WT1 antisense oligomers specifically inhibited growth of glioblastoma cell lines, U87‐MG, A172, and T‐98G. These results may indicate that the WT1 gene plays an important role in tumorigenesis of primary astrocytic tumors.