Wnt signaling and cancer

Wnt signaling and cancer are discussed in this review article which emphasizes molecular defects known to promote neoplastic transformation in humans and in animal models. It has been found that wnt signaling causes cancer and that tumor promotion by the pathway can go through various genetic defects. Manifestation of cancer by aberrant wnt signaling mostly likely comes from inappropriate gene activation mediated by stabilized beta-catenin. Topics covered include receptors, ligands and related proteins, GSK3(beta), dishevelled, axin, PP2A, APC, transcription factors, and cross talk.