In this regard, many studies have identified WT1 protein as a tumor antigen, considered a target molecule for clinical application in human acute leukemias.
The purpose of this study was assessment of WT1 gene expression in patients with acute leukemia, measurement of IL-12 and C3 levels in serum and evaluation of the relationship between them.
The role of the Wilms tumor 1 gene (WT1) in acute leukemias has been underscored by mutations found in acute myeloid leukemia identifying patients with inferior survival.
Positive immunostaining of WT1 was observed only in the portion of acute leukemia and overt leukemia (OL) transformed from MDS with a high WT1 message level, suggesting the relatively high detection threshold of WT1 protein with the immunostaining method.
The tumor suppressor gene wt1 (Wilms tumor 1) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor reported to be expressed in many tumors, including mesotheliomas, carcinomas, and acute leukemias.
Prognostic significance of quantitative analysis of WT1 gene transcripts by competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in acute leukaemia.
Recently, we and others found Wilms' tumour (WT1) gene expression to be increased in virtually all patients with acute leukaemias, whereas normal haemopoietic progenitors express the WT1 gene at much lower levels or not at all.
Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of the WT-1 gene in peripheral bloods (PBs) of 33 patients with acute leukemia (AML 26; ALL 7) and monitored its expression after achievement of CR.
Clear correlation was observed between the relative levels of WT1 gene expression (< 0.6 v > or = 0.6) and the prognosis for acute leukemia (AML, ALL, and AMLL).