High-grade astrocytomas show increased Nestin and Wilms's tumor gene (WT1) protein expression.

Abstract

Wilms's tumor gene (WT1) is overexpressed in a variety of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Recently, WT1 protein has been considered as a molecular target of cancer immunotherapy for several solid tumors and as a tool for monitoring minimal residual disease in leukemia patients. There are only few investigations on WT1 expression in central nervous system neoplasms, which suggest that the WT1 gene may play an important role in tumorigenesis of primary astrocytic tumors and that high-grade tumors express high levels of WT1 proteins. We examined 50 low-grade and high-grade gliomas using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical methods to identify WT1 protein, P53, Ki-67, GFAP, NFP, EGFR, nestin, and Neu-N expression. WT1 and nestin shared overlapping expression in all gliomas and were increased in high-grade examples, highlighting their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic tumor markers. Our results support the combined role of WT1 and nestin in glial tumorigenesis and progression.

• Authors: Elisabeth J Rushing, Glenn D Sandberg, Iren Horkayne-Szakaly
• Journal: International journal of surgical pathology (Int J Surg Pathol) Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 255-9 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1940-2465 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19578047 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Intermediate Filament Proteins
• NES protein, human
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Nestin
• WT1 Proteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Astrocytoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Brain Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Infant
• Intermediate Filament Proteins (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Nestin
• Tissue Array Analysis
• WT1 Proteins (metabolism)
• Young Adult