Open AccessWnt3a promotes radioresistance via autophagy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Jing Qiancheng,
Li Guo,
Chen Xiyu,
Liu Chao,
Lu Shanhong,
Zheng Hua,
Ma Huiling,
Qin Yuexiang,
Zhang Diekuo,
Zhang Shuiting,
Ren Shuling,
Huang Donghai,
Tan Pingqing,
Chen Jie,
Qiu Yuanzheng,
Liu Yong
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.14394
Subject(s) - radioresistance , wnt signaling pathway , autophagy , wnt3a , cancer research , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , biology , catenin , cancer , head and neck cancer , signal transduction , medicine , radiation therapy , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , biochemistry
The canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway and autophagy play critical roles in cancer progression. However, the role of Wnt‐mediated autophagy in cancer radioresistance remains unclear. In this study, we found that irradiation activated the Wnt/β‐catenin and autophagic signalling pathways in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Wnt3a is a classical ligand that activated the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway, induced autophagy and decreased the sensitivity of SCCHN to irradiation both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that Wnt3a promoted SCCHN radioresistance via protective autophagy. Finally, expression of the Wnt3a protein was elevated in both SCCHN tissues and patients' serum. Patients showing high expression of Wnt3a displayed a worse prognosis. Taken together, our study indicates that both the canonical Wnt and autophagic signalling pathways are valuable targets for sensitizing SCCHN to irradiation.