title: Wnt signaling in cancer.
abstract: Aberrant regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway is a prevalent theme in cancer biology. From the earliest observation that Wnt overexpression could lead to malignant transformation of mouse mammary tissue to the most recent genetic discoveries gleaned from tumor genome sequencing, the Wnt pathway continues to evolve as a central mechanism in cancer biology. This article summarizes the evidence supporting a role for Wnt signaling in human cancer. This includes a review of the genetic mutations affecting Wnt pathway components, as well as some of epigenetic mechanisms that alter expression of genes relevant to Wnt. I also highlight some research on the cooperativity of Wnt with other signaling pathways in cancer. Finally, some emphasis is placed on laboratory research that provides a proof of concept for the therapeutic inhibition of Wnt signaling in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94608, USA. polakis.paul@gene.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polakis
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins