Anaplastic nephroblastomas express transketolase-like enzyme 1

Abstract

Aim: Transketolase-like enzyme 1 (TKTL1) is a glycolytic enzyme found to be upregulated in several tumours and associated with tumour progression. Nephroblastoma is the commonest paediatric renal malignancy and has a good prognosis except for those with anaplasia. The expression of nephroblastoma and TKTL1 has not been studied before and we embark on a study to compare the immunoexpression of TKTL1 in anaplastic and non-anaplastic nephroblastomas.

Methods: Twenty eight patients who had nephrectomies for nephroblastomas were studied. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were stained with monoclonal TKTL1 antibody.

Results: Six of the 15 anaplastic nephroblastomas showed staining in 80-100% of the tumour (p=0.36). None of the thirteen non-anaplastic nephroblastomas showed TKTL1 staining in >80% of the tumour.

Conclusion: TKTL1 expression is associated with the presence of anaplasia and may be a mechanism via which anaplastic tumour cells thrive under different conditions. Glycolytic inhibitors may play a role in anaplastic nephroblastomas.