title: Epithelial morphogenesis and intestinal cancer: new insights in signaling mechanisms.
abstract: In this review, the major signal transduction pathways that have been shown to play an important role in intestinal homeostasis are highlighted. Each of them, the Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, and Bone Morphogenetic Protein, as well as growth-factor regulated Receptor Tyrosine Kinases are depicted with a special emphasis through their involvement in stem cell maintenance and their role in intestinal tumorigenesis. Finally, we discuss recent data on the final steps of tumor progression, notably the formation of distant metastases. This multistep process is highly complex and still far from being understood while being of major importance for the survival of patients with digestive cancer.
authors.affiliation: UMR144 Curie/CNRS, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fre
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vignjevic
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoumacher
authors.forename: Shannon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robine
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Louvard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase