Wnt signalling and cancer stem cells.
Intracellular signalling mediated by secreted Wnt proteins is essential for the establishment of cell fates and proper tissue patterning during embryo development and for the regulation of tissue homeostasis and stem cell function in adult tissues. Aberrant activation of Wnt signalling pathways has been directly linked to the genesis of different tumours. Here, the components and molecular mechanisms implicated in the transduction of Wnt signal, along with important results supporting a central role for this signalling pathway in stem cell function regulation and carcinogenesis will be briefl y reviewed.
Espada
Jesús
J
Biomedical Research Institute Alberto Sols (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain. jespada@iib.uam.es
Calvo
Moisés B
MB
Díaz-Prado
Silvia
S
Medina
Vanessa
V
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D051153:Wnt Proteins