The Role of Canonical Wnt Signaling in Regulating Radioresistance

Radioresistance is a major obstacle in radiotherapy for cancer, and strategies are needed to overcome this problem. Currently, radiotherapy combined with targeted therapy such as inhibitors of phosphoinosotide 3-kinase/Akt and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling have become the focus of studies on radiosensitization. Apart from these two signaling pathways, which promote radioresistance, deregulation of Wnt signaling is also associated with the radioresistance of multiple cancers. Wnts, as important messengers in the tumor microenvironment, are involved in cancer progression mainly via canonical Wnt signaling. Their role in promoting DNA damage repair and inhibiting apoptosis facilitates cancer resistance to radiation. Thus, it seems reasonable to target Wnt signaling as a method for overcoming radioresistance. Many small-molecule inhibitors that target the Wnt signaling pathway have been identified and shown to promote radiosensitization. Therefore, a Wnt signaling inhibitor may help to overcome radioresistance in cancer therapy.