title: Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell growth, cell development and the differentiation of normal stem cells. Constitutive activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is found in many human cancers, and is thus an attractive target for anti-cancer therapy. Specific inhibitors of this pathway have been keenly researched and developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review discusses the potential of inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as a therapeutic approach for cancer, along with an overview of the development of specific inhibitors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a significant role in the development and recurrence of several cancers, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling is important for the proliferation of CSCs. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is therefore a promising treatment approach. Progress has been made in the development of screening methods to identify Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors. Biomarker-based screening is an effective and promising method for the identification of compounds of interest.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto University Hospital, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Eishi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashihara
authors.forename: Taira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekawa
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin