title: β-catenin in oral cancer: an update on current knowledge.
abstract: β-Catenin is a multiple function protein. These functions derive from its interactions with other cell proteins, both on the cell membrane, in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. β-Catenin forms a complex with the adhesion molecule E-cadherin, promoting cell-cell adhesion and thereby preventing the cell dissociation that is required for cancer invasion and progression mechanisms. There is also a dynamic pool of cytoplasmic β-catenin that serves as connection between the extracellular microenvironment and the nucleus. Cytoplasmic β-catenin acts as a transcription factor for the nucleus in the canonical Wnt pathway, activating the transcription of various genes. Structural or functional alterations of β-catenin can promote cancer progression. This review addresses the current knowledge on the implications of β-catenin in the development of oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Instituto de Biomedicina de Granada, University of Granada, Spain. Electronic address: magonzal@ugr.es.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González-Moles
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Anatomía Patológica, Instituto de Biomedicina de Granada Complejo Hospitalario san Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ávila
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Instituto de Biomedicina de Granada, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gil-Montoya
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Instituto de Biomedicina de Granada, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plaza-Campillo
authors.affiliation: University College of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Oral carcinogenesis; Wnt/canonical; β-Catenin