The Wnt signaling pathway in solid childhood tumors.
The Wnt signaling pathway has long been known to direct growth and patterning during embryonic development. Recent evidence also implicates this pathway in the development of childhood tumors of the liver, the kidney, the brain, and the pancreas. Here, we review the current evidence on how constitutive activation of the Wnt signaling pathway may occur in hepato-, nephro-, medullo- and pancreatoblastomas. With particular emphasis the mutational activation of CTNNB1, an emerging major oncogene in solid childhood tumors, is discussed.
Koesters
Robert
R
Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 220/221, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. r.koesters@dkfz.de
von Knebel Doeberitz
Magnus
M
D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases