Centre for Cancer Research

Wilms tumour

Wilms tumour is the most common childhood kidney cancer, or nephroblastoma. It is a classic model for the connection between normal cellular development and cancer. Clusters of cells, called blastemas, in the kidneys of patients who develop Wilms tumour fail to differentiate properly, and form malignant metastatic tumours. Two genes that play an important role in the development of Wilms tumour are the tumour suppressors and transcription factors, Wilms tumour 1 (WT1) and p53. Scientists from the Centre for Cancer Research are looking at the regulation of these genes and the role they play in tumourigenesis.