Abstract

The molecular genetic events involved in the etiology of granulosa cell, Sertoli cell, and Leydig cell tumors are unknown. The expression of the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene WT1 in granulosa and Sertoli cells prompted us to analyze this gene for mutations in 11 granulosa cell tumors, three Leydig cell tumors, and one Sertoli/Leydig cell tumor. Although most of these tumors express WT1 mRNA, none harbors a WT1 mutation in the zinc finger domains where >90% of WT1 mutations in sporadic Wilms' tumors have been found. In addition we were able to exclude tumor-specific loss of heterozygosity in 13 of 15 cases. Taken together these results suggest that the WT1 gene is unlikely to play an important role in the development of sex cord-stromal tumors. 1 This project was supported by the Cooperative Human Tissue Network which is funded by the National Cancer Institute and by Grant IRG-185 from the American Cancer Society. 2 Present address: Pediatric Oncology Program, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 3 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Cancer Biology NNI-06. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44118.