Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

In vitro Organoid Culture of Primary Mouse Colon Tumors
Published on: May 17, 2013
Wnt, stem cells and cancer in the intestine
1Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The intestinal epithelium is a self-renewing tissue which represents a unique model for studying interconnected cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, cell migration and carcinogenesis. Although the stem cells of the intestine have not yet been physically characterized or isolated, data over the past decade have strongly implicated the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway in their maintenance and progression to cancer. This review will (i) describe the distinctive features of the intestinal epithelium in relation to stem-cell function, (ii) illustrate the major genetic alterations that can lead to cancer, and (iii) show how Wnt/beta-catenin signalling controls homoeostasis in this tissue.
Related Concept Videos
Adult Stem Cells
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...

