title: New perspectives on β-catenin control of cell fate and proliferation in colon cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Aberrant activation of the Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site family(Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathway is the most common and initial alteration in sporadic colorectal tumors. Numerous experimental studies have indicated that β-catenin is a key regulator of colorectal cancer. Indeed, β-catenin activity was shown to designate colon cancer stem cells (CSC) and is, therefore, an attractive target for new therapeutic agents. Thus, it is necessary to further understand its biology and search for effective therapy. Here we review the current literature regarding the functions of β-catenin control of intestinal cell fate and proliferation. Further, we provide a brief commentary on our current understanding of the role that β-catenin plays in colorectal tumor. These results show that β-catenin may serve as a good diagnosis biomarker of early-stage tumor development and a novel potential therapeutic target for colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Clinical College of General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Anorectal, General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Clinical College of General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Anorectal, General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Beijing 100039, China. Electronic address: wjwsj2013@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Sen
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Colon cancer; Proliferation; Wnt; β-catenin