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The Molecular Genetics of Wilms Tumor

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Cancer Genes

Part of the book series: Pezcoller Foundation Symposia ((PFSO,volume 7))

Abstract

Wilms’ tumor (WT), a malignancy of embryonal kidney cells, posesses several significant opportunities and challenges to the understanding of the molecular basis of tumorigenesis and treatment response. First, from the perspective of the genetic basis of tumorigenesis, WT provides one of the most clear cut circumstances under which the underlying genetic contributions to tumorigenesis can be analyzed. Second, from the perspective of molecular biology, the isolation of the WT1 tumor suppressor gene provides a critical initiation point for developing an understanding of the relationship between normal differentiation and tumorigenesis. Third, from the perspective of treatment response, WT provides a critical challenge to investigators concerned with extending the high success rate for treatment of WT to other forms of cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and McGill Cancer Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6

    Jerry Pelletier

  2. National Cancer Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104, Japan

    Hitoshi Nakagama

  3. Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA

    David E. Housman (Dr. David Housman)

Authors
  1. Jerry Pelletier
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  2. Hitoshi Nakagama
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  3. David E. Housman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Enrico Mihich

  2. MIT Center for Cancer Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    David Housman

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Pelletier, J., Nakagama, H., Housman, D.E. (1996). The Molecular Genetics of Wilms Tumor. In: Mihich, E., Housman, D. (eds) Cancer Genes. Pezcoller Foundation Symposia, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5895-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5895-8_6

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