Abstract:Abstract:ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of Wlims’ tumor gene 1(WT1) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) at mRNA and protein level, and to analyze their relationships with clinicopathological characteristics of this tumor.MethodsThe expression of WT1 mRNA was detected by realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR method in 46 specimens of HNSCC tissues and 20 of normal pharyngeal mucosa tissues. The expression of WT1 protein in paraffin sections of two groups was detected by immunohistochemical technology.Results①The mean expression level of WT1 mRNA was 9.61×10-3 in HNSCC, which was significantly higher than that of normal pharyngeal mucosa tissues(1.19×10-4) (P<0.05). ②High WT1 expression level in HNSCC significantly correlated with poor differentiation of tumor (P<0.05). Furthermore, high expression level of WT1 mRNA was observed in specimens of hypolaryngeal carcinoma (P<0.05) and heavy drinkers (P<0.05) compared with tumors of other locations. ③WT1 was positively expressed at protein level in 35 of 46 HNSCC specimens (76.09%), which was significantly higher that of specimens of normal pharyngeal mucosa (0/20,0%).The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionWT1 gene is overexpressed at both mRNA and protein level in HNSCC, which suggests its important role in pathogenesis of HNSCC.