Molecular and cellular heterogeneity of Wilms' tumor

摘要: We developed a Wilms' tumor-cell culture system to investigate the molecular basis of nephrogenesis and oncogenesis. Several distinct fractions cells were isolated characterized from same tumor specimen. The exhibited striking differences in morphology, immunocytochemical staining profiles cytogenetics. One fraction contained with features epithelium; other cell resembled partially differentiated mesenchyme (blastema or stroma). While tumor-suppressor gene WT1 was not altered, loss heterozygosity (LOH) an insertion intron I p53 occurred cultured types. LOH for RB detected only cells. These findings are consistent model initiation pluripotent that is able undergo subsequent differentiation along multiple different lines which mimics normal nephrogenesis.