The WT1-gene ? its role in tumourigenesis and prospects for developing a vaccine
The WT1 gene is a complex gene originally known to suppress cancer in kidneys. Studies of WT1 knockout mice have confirmed the important role of WT1 in the pathogenesis of Wilms? tumour, a tumour which counts for 95% of all childhood renal tumours. In that case the WT1 gene acts as a tumour suppressor gene. Subsequent research has shown that the WT1 gene in many other cases acts as an oncogene, e g in leukemia or lung cancer (even though these cancer forms can emerge as a result of many other aetiological factors). Since WT1 acts as an oncogene in so many different organs, it is of great importance to evaluate how and when the WT1 gene and protein acts. This information can then be used to develop immunotherapy (vaccines) to stabilize and treat different tumours and cancer forms. Both phase I and phase II studies have been carried out on candidate vaccines with varying, but overall promising results. The immune response does not always correlate with the clinical response, however, and the efficacy of the treatment is often very low. Additional trials are therefore needed to understand what can be improved in the vaccines and the treatment, so that they later, hopefully, can be used clinically in the future.