Wnt/Planar cell polarity signaling: a new paradigm for cancer therapy

Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Aug;8(8):2103-9. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-0282. Epub 2009 Aug 11.

Abstract

The evolutionarily conserved and developmentally important Wnt signaling pathway has traditionally been regarded as a critical player in tumorigenesis through the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin cascade. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence based on recent research has revealed the previously unacknowledged role of noncanonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling in cancer progression, invasion and metastasis, and angiogenesis. This review describes the PCP signaling pathway and its ever-expanding components and modulators, highlights the most recent studies that provide insight into the link between PCP signaling and cancer, and, finally, proposes a model by which PCP signaling may promote cancer development. This review underscores the emerging theme that deregulated PCP signaling contributes to tumorigenesis, providing new potential targets for cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Polarity
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins