Wilms tumor is an embryonal kidney cancer that affects one in 10 000 children. Epidemiologic studies have shown that 1%–3% of cases of Wilms tumor are familial and that a predisposition to Wilms tumor is probably caused by rare germline mutations acting in a dominant fashion (1). The risks of Wilms tumor conferred by mutations in these genes are poorly characterized, with estimates of their pen...

Background and Objective: Wilms’ tumor (WT) is the most common genitourinary tract tumor in children. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs; their role in the pathogenesis of many types of human cancers has been identified. We aimed to evaluate the expression of miR-21, a well-known oncomir, in WT tissue samples which is a very common urinary tract malignancy in children...

We have examined the pattern of expression of the human PAX2 gene in Wilms' tumors and human fetal kidney by Northern blot and in situ hybridization. Human PAX2 encodes a paired box-containing protein and has a high degree of homology with mouse and Drosophila paired box genes. In situ hybridization analysis reveals that PAX2 is expressed in nephrogenic structures in fetal kidney and also in Wi...

A right-sided renal mass in an 11-month-old girl was diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy as Wilms tumor, which on histologic examination was found to be predominantly rhabdomyomatous. As part of the examination, serum creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB levels were measured and were significantly elevated at 994 U/L (reference range, 42-180 U/L) and 40 U/L (reference range, 0-3 U/L), respectivel...

BACKGROUND Wilms' tumor is the commonest primary malignant renal tumor in childhood. Rarely, it may present in the adult age group. CASE PRESENTATION We report a 48-year-old male presenting with flank pain and haematuria. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a right renal mass measuring 11 x 10 cms, and a clinical diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma was made. Nephrectomy was performed, and a final dia...

The WT1 gene, located at 11p13, encodes a zinc finger transcription factor involved in renal and gonadal development and in Wilms' tumor. Constitutional mutations of this gene have been described in most patients with Denys Drash syndrome (mesangial sclerosis associated with male pseudohermaphrodism and/or Wilms' tumor), but also in patients with genitourinary abnormalities and Wilms' tumor (WT...

Genetic alterations in tumor suppressor genes are believed to play an important role in the initiation of childhood and adult malignancies. Tumor-specific loss of heterozygosity for particular chromosomal regions has provided the starting point for the cloning of different tumor suppressor genes, including the Wilms tumor predisposing gene, WT1, at chromosome 11p13. This article reviews the pat...

Wilms' tumor is one of the most common malignant tumors observed in children, and its early diagnosis is important for late-stage treatment and prognosis. We previously screened and identified protein markers for Wilms' tumor; however, these markers lacked specificity, and some were associated with inflammation. In the current study, serum samples from children with Wilms' tumors were compared ...

Wilms' tumor is one of the most common solid tumors of children. The protein product of the tumor-suppressor gene, Wilms' tumor 1 (WT-1), binds to the same DNA sequences as the protein product of the early growth response 1 (EGR-1) gene. There is experimental evidence that EGR-1 is involved in controlling cell growth. The expression of both genes in Wilms' tumor was studied by others, mainly at...