Mutational Analysis of the Tumor Suppressor WTX Gene in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE : In a recent study of Wilms' tumors, a new X chromosome gene, Wilms' tumor gene on the X chromosome (WTX), was discovered that was found to harbor small deletions and point mutations. The WTX protein negatively regulates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, and is considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. One of the questions about the WTX gene is whether the genetic alterations of the WTX gene are specific only to Wilms' tumors. The aim of this study was to explore whether the WTX gene mutation is a characteristic of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS : In the current study, we analyzed the part of the WTX gene encoding the N-terminal of WTX, where most of the WTX point mutations have been detected in Wilms' tumors. Forty-eight NSCLC tissues were analyzed by a single-strand conformation polymorphism assay and DNA sequencing. RESULTS : SSCP analysis revealed no evidence of somatic mutations in the DNA sequences encoding the N-terminal of the WTX gene in the 48 NSCLC tissues. CONCLUSION : The data presented here indicate that the WTX gene may not be somatically-mutated in human NSCLCs, and suggest that NSCLCs may not utilize mutational events of the WTX gene in the process of pathogenesis

WTX:the Wilms tumor suppressor gene located on the sex-determining X chromosome / 中国病理生理杂志

Wilms tumor(WT) is one of the most common renal malignancies in children.Although several genetic loci such as the WT1,WT2,p53 and ?-catenin genes have been considered to be associated with WT,the causes of the tumor are still unknown.Recently the US researchers have identified a new tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in WT.The biological function of the protein encoded by WTX is yet unknown,however,the gene's location in the X chromosome is of particular interest.This review highlights the current study of the gene mutated in Wilms tumor.