Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

In vitro Organoid Culture of Primary Mouse Colon Tumors
Published on: May 17, 2013
Wnt signaling in the intestinal epithelium: from endoderm to cancer
Alex Gregorieff1, Hans Clevers
1Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Hubrecht Laboratory, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The Wnt pathway controls cell fate during embryonic development. It also persists as a key regulator of homeostasis in adult self-renewing tissues. In these tissues, mutational deregulation of the Wnt cascade is closely associated with malignant transformation. The intestinal epithelium represents the best-understood example for the closely linked roles of Wnt signaling in homeostatic self-renewal and malignant transformation. In this review, we outline current understanding of the physiological role of Wnt signaling in intestinal biology. From this perspective, we then describe how mutational subversion of the Wnt cascade leads to colorectal cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
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...

