Wilms' tumor, overgrowth, and fetal growth factors: a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is advanced suggesting that the association between high birthweight, overgrowth features of certain congenital malformations, and Wilms' tumor may be due to the action of loci in addition to the putative Wilms' tumor locus on the short arm of chromosome #11. These genes include insulin, insulin-like growth factor II and the c-Ha-ras 1 oncogene. The possible role of environmental factors in the oncogenesis of Wilms' tumor is discussed.