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Evidence for clonal development of Wilms' tumor.
J A Wilimas1, L W Dow, E C Douglass
1Departments of Hematology-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.
The American Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Wilms' tumor is clonal, as shown by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme analysis in tumor tissues from young girls. This supports a single-cell origin for Wilms' tumor development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Wilms' tumor is a pediatric kidney cancer.
- Understanding the cellular origin of Wilms' tumor is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies suggested a clonal origin, but further evidence was needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clonality of Wilms' tumor.
- To determine if Wilms' tumors arise from a single mutated cell.
- To analyze glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme expression in tumor and normal tissues.
Main Methods:
- Studied G6PD enzyme types in normal and tumor tissues from 11 pediatric patients with Wilms' tumor.
- Patients were heterozygous for G6PD, allowing for the detection of different enzyme types.
- Compared G6PD expression patterns between normal tissue and tumor specimens.
Main Results:
- Normal tissues showed both G6PD types A and B.
- All Wilms' tumor specimens exhibited only a single G6PD type.
- In bilateral cases and nephroblastomatosis complex, a single G6PD type was consistently found, suggesting clonal origin.
Conclusions:
- The findings strongly support the clonal nature of Wilms' tumor.
- Further research with molecular probes is needed for bilateral disease and nephroblastomatosis complex.
- Hypothesizes that Wilms' tumor may arise from a second somatic mutation in genetically predisposed individuals.