Immunohistochemical analysis of cyclin E in Wilms tumors

Abstract

Abnormalities in cell cycle regulators and subsequent deregulation of G1-S transition may be one of the most important biological events in the malignant transformation of cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Cyclin E in the normal kidney, and in Wilms tumor, and to correlate the results with tumor stage, histological type and prognostic group. We have investigated 28 cases of Wilms tumor, two Wilms tumor metastases in lungs and one case of normal renal tissue. Correlation of semiquantitatively scored cyclin E levels with histopathological parameters was performed for all cases. Diffuse expression of cyclin E was more frequent in the blastemal (without epithelial component) then in the epithelial (without blastemal) component. This correlation showed high significance (p=0.001). Diffuse expression of cyclin E was more frequent in stage III/IV/V (71.4%) than in stage I/II (42.9%), showing no significant correlation (p>0.05). The intermediate risk group of Wilms tumor showed more frequent cyclin E diffuse expression (66.7%) in comparison with high risk cases (20%), showing statistical significance (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that diffuse expression of cyclin E is associated with the prognostic group and tumor stage. Also, cyclin E expression is more pronounced in the blastemal component than in the epithelial component.