The Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) gene, initially identified in pediatric kidney cancer (Wilms' tumor), encodes a nuclear transcription factor critical for embryonic development, particularly in the urogenital system. The WT1 protein regulates gene expression by binding to DNA, playing dual roles as a tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on cellular context, splice variants (e.g., ±KTS isoforms), and post-translational modifications. Aberrant WT1 expression is linked to malignancies, including acute leukemias, mesothelioma, and solid tumors.
WT1 antibodies are essential tools in research and diagnostics. They detect WT1 protein expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, or Western blot, aiding in tumor classification and prognosis. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), WT1 overexpression correlates with poor outcomes, and antibodies help monitor minimal residual disease (MRD). WT1 is also a target for immunotherapy; antibody-based assays guide vaccine or adoptive T-cell therapies. However, interpretation requires caution, as WT1 exhibits variable expression patterns across tissues and tumor subtypes. For instance, nuclear WT1 staining in mesotheliomas contrasts with cytoplasmic localization in some carcinomas. Despite complexity, WT1 remains a robust biomarker and therapeutic target due to its cancer-specific overexpression in diverse malignancies. Ongoing studies focus on optimizing antibody specificity for clinical applications, including epitope mapping to distinguish functional WT1 isoforms.