Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1) (WT1)

Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1) is a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a critical role in the embryonic development of the urogenital system and the regulation of cellular differentiation and apoptosis (UniProt P19544). While its expression is highly restricted in healthy adult tissues, it is significantly overexpressed in a wide array of malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, mesothelioma, and various solid tumors (PMID: 28407470). This differential expression makes the WT1 protein a high-priority tumor-associated antigen for cancer immunotherapy (PMID: 19581533). The therapeutic approach specifically targets the WT1-derived peptides presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of cancer cells. These peptide-MHC complexes are recognized by T-cell receptors (TCRs), which triggers a targeted cytotoxic T-cell response against the tumor (PMID: 31515463). Current clinical strategies include the use of peptide vaccines like Galinpepimut-S and the development of TCR-engineered T-cell therapies (TCR-T) to enhance the immune system's ability to detect and eliminate WT1-positive cells (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Other names

Wilms tumor proteinWT33GUDAWT1WAGRZinc finger protein WT1WT1-MHC complex

Induction of a cytotoxic T-cell response through the recognition of WT1-derived peptides presented on MHC Class I molecules by specific T-cell receptors.