Abstract: The present invention provides using a truncated WT1 gene transcript as a marker for detecting cancer in a subject. The method provides detecting the truncated WT1 gene transcript in a sample from the subject where the truncated gene transcript is characterized by an absence of a 101 base pair segment of intron 5 between nucleic acid positions −101 and −1. Positive detection of the truncated WT1 gene transcript indicates the presence of cancer. The invention provides a truncated WT1 gene transcript characterized by an absence of a 101 base pair segment of intron 5 between nucleic acid positions −101 and −1 and having a length of about two thousand base pairs. The truncated gene transcript is further characterized by containing at their five prime end sequences normally confined to the fifth intron of the WT1 gene, exons six through ten at their three prime end, and an overall length of approximately 2 kb.

Abstract: The present invention provides using a truncated WT1 gene transcript as a marker for detecting cancer in a subject. The method provides detecting the truncated WT1 gene transcript in a sample from the subject where the truncated gene transcript is characterized by an absence of a 101 base pair segment of intron 5 between nucleic acid positions −101 and −1. Positive detection of the truncated WT1 gene transcript indicates the presence of cancer. The invention provides a truncated WT1 gene transcript characterized by an absence of a 101 base pair segment of intron 5 between nucleic acid positions −101 and −1 and having a length of about two thousand base pairs. The truncated gene transcript is further characterized by containing at their five prime end sequences normally confined to the fifth intron of the WT1 gene, exons six through ten at their three prime end, and an overall length of approximately 2 kb.