Expression of Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The product of the Wilms' tumor gene, WT1 protein, is a tumor antigen for various kinds of cancer, and WT1 peptide-based cancer immunotherapy is widely anticipated as a new possibility for cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of WT1 from quantitative and morphological perspectives in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most widespread malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity.

METHODS:

Six OSCC cell lines and tissue sections from 29 OSCC patients were analyzed. To detect WT1 expression, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, Western blots, and immunofluorescence flow cytometry for WT1 were performed on the cell lines, and immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed on the tissue sections.

RESULTS:

WT1 mRNA was found overexpressed in one of the six OSCC cell lines, with expression levels higher than that seen in human leukemia cell line (K562). Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections showed overexpression of WT1 protein in two patients, concentrated mainly in the cytoplasm of the outer one to three cell layers of the cancer nests. This was consistent with the expression of WT1 mRNA observed by FISH. Meanwhile, WT1 was not detected on normal oral epithelium. WT1 protein was detected on actively proliferating cancer nests and even on elongated epithelial ridge where new droplet-cancer-nests were being formed and starting infiltration toward subepithelial layer.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results suggest that WT1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of some types of OSCC, particularly in proliferation of the cancer cells.

• Authors: Toshinari Mikami, Tomohiro Hada, Naoyuki Chosa, Akira Ishisaki, Harumi Mizuki, Yasunori Takeda
• Journal: Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (J Oral Pathol Med) Vol. 42 Issue 2 Pg. 133-9 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1600-0714 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 22672247 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Chemical References

• WT1 Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Blotting, Western
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation
• Cell Separation
• Cytoplasm (pathology)
• Epithelium (pathology)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (genetics)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Mucosa (pathology)
• Mouth Neoplasms (pathology)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• WT1 Proteins (analysis)