Wilms’ tumor 1 mRNA expression: a good tool for differentiating between myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia in children?

ABSTRACTObjectives: To evaluate the value of Wilms’ tumor 1 mRNA (WT1) expression in the differential diagnosis of childhood myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and aplastic anemia (AA).Methods: This study compared WT1 expression levels in children of MDS and AA to evaluate its value in differential diagnosis.Results: WT1 overexpression rate and mean WT1 expression level were significantly higher in MDS compared to AA (P = 0.000 and P = 0.013, respectively). Patients with RCC and normal cytogenetics exhibited significantly greater portion of patients exposing WT1 overexpression, compared to all AA subtypes (P = 0.001, P = 0.000 and P = 0.001, respectively). ROC curve analysis revealed that WT1 expression could differentiate between RCC with normal cytogenetics and non-severe AA. Based on a cut-off value of 1.45%, WT1 expression provided a sensitivity of 23.2% and a specificity of 100%.Discussion: In the present study, WT1 overexpression rate was gradually decreased in RAEB group, RCC group and AA subtypes, and...