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Wilms’ Tumor GeneWT1: Its Oncogenic Function and Clinical Application

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Abstract

The Wilms’ tumor geneWT1 is a gene responsible for the childhood renal tumor, Wilms’ tumor, and is defined as a tumor suppressor gene. However, the wild-typeWT1 gene is highly expressed in leukemic blast cells of myeloid and lymphoid origin, and thus,WT1 messenger RNA provides a novel tumor marker for detection of minimal residual disease of leukemias and for monitoring disease progression of myelodysplastic syndromes. TheWT1 gene exerts an oncogenic function rather than a tumor-suppressor gene function in solid tumors as well as leukemias, and the WT1 gene product is an attractive tumor antigen capable of eliciting cytotoxic T lymphocytes againstWT1-expressing tumors.

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  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan

    Haruo Sugiyama

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Correspondence to Haruo Sugiyama.

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Sugiyama, H. Wilms’ Tumor GeneWT1: Its Oncogenic Function and Clinical Application. Int J Hematol 73, 177–187 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981935

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