Wnt-1 signal as a potential cancer therapeutic target.
Wnt-1 was first identified as a proto-oncogene activated in mouse mammary tumors induced by mouse mammary tumor virus in 1982. Wnt-1 signal is a secreted glycoprotein that plays important roles in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. In a conditional Wnt-1 transgenic mouse tumor model, reduction of Wnt-1 signaling results in the regression of the Wnt-1 initiated primary mammary tumors and lung metastasis. Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway has been strongly linked to the development of human cancers. Increased Wnt-1 signal has been found in a variety of human cancers. Our group has shown that blockade of Wnt-1 signaling, by either Wnt-1 small interference RNA or anti-Wnt-1 antibody induces apoptosis in human cancer cells and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. This review summarizes the recent significant findings and the potentials of Wnt-1 signal as a new therapeutic target for cancer.
Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
Liang
L
You
Jae
J
Kim
Biao
B
He
Zhidong
Z
Xu
Frank
F
McCormick
David M
DM
Jablons
D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051155:Wnt1 Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051155:Wnt1 Protein