Abstract
β-catenin is a multifunctional protein identified to be pivotal in embryonic patterning, organogenesis and adult homeostasis. It plays a critical structural role in mediating cadherin junctions and is also an essential transcriptional co-activator in the canonical Wnt pathway. Evidence has been documented that both the canonical Wnt pathway and cadherin junctions are deregulated or impaired in a plethora of human malignancies. In the light of this, there has been a recent surge in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the etiology of cancer development from the perspective of β-catenin. Here, we focus on the emerging roles of β-catenin in the process of tumorigenesis by discussing novel functions of old players and new proteins, mechanisms identified to mediate or interact with β-catenin and the most recently unraveled clinical implications of β-catenin regulatory pathways toward tumor suppression.
Copyright © 2011 UICC.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
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Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / metabolism
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Axin Protein
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Cell Adhesion
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
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Humans
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LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / metabolism
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Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5
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Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
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Molecular Targeted Therapy
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Neoplasm Metastasis
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Neoplasms / etiology*
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Wnt Proteins / metabolism
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beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
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beta Catenin / physiology*
Substances
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APC protein, human
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
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Axin Protein
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LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
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LRP5 protein, human
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LRP6 protein, human
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Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5
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Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
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Repressor Proteins
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Wnt Proteins
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beta Catenin
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3