title: Diverse mechanisms for activation of Wnt signalling in the ovarian tumour microenvironment.
abstract: Wnt signalling pathways have been shown to play key roles in both normal development and tumorigenesis. Progression of many human cancers is associated with defined mutations in Wnt pathway components that result in dysregulated β-catenin-mediated gene transcription. Although Wnt pathway mutations are rare in epithelial ovarian cancer (with the exception of the endometrioid histotype), accumulating evidence supports a role for Wnt signalling in ovarian tumorigenesis in the absence of genetic mutations. The present review summarizes evidence in support of activated Wnt signalling in ovarian tumours and discusses alternative mechanisms for Wnt pathway activation in the ovarian tumour microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois, 833 South Wood Street, 335 College of Pharmacy Building, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barbolina
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Burkhalter
authors.forename: M Sharon
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin