Open AccessTargeting the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in hematological malignancies
Author(s) -
Ashihara Eishi,
Takada Tetsuya,
Maekawa Taira
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.12655
Subject(s) - wnt signaling pathway , cyclin d1 , catenin , carcinogenesis , cancer research , lrp6 , biology , lrp5 , beta catenin , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , genetics , cell cycle
The canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathway plays an important role in different developmental processes through the regulation of stem cell functions. In the activation of the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, β‐catenin protein is imported into the nucleus and activates transcription of target genes including cyclin D1 and c‐myc . Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway contributes to carcinogenesis and malignant behaviors, and Wnt signaling is essential for the maintenance of cancer stem cells. The canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathway has been investigated extensively as a target in cancer treatment and several specific inhibitors of this signaling pathway have been identified through high‐throughput screening. In this review, the significance of the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in hematological carcinogenesis and screening methods for specific inhibitors are discussed.