Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay
08:01

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

Published on: October 27, 2014

Disruption of the non-canonical WNT pathway in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Eric H L Lee1, Raj Chari, Andy Lam

  • 1Department of Cancer Genetics and Developmental Biology, BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Clinical Medicine. Oncology
|April 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The non-canonical Wnt pathway is disrupted in over half of lung squamous cell carcinoma samples. This study reveals its significant role in lung cancer, suggesting new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Gene Expression Analysis

Background:

  • Canonical Wnt pathway disruptions are known in cancer.
  • The role of the non-canonical Wnt pathway in cancer, particularly lung cancer, is largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Wnt pathway gene expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma.
  • To identify disruptions in the non-canonical Wnt pathway in lung cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR was used to analyze gene expression.
  • Examined transcript levels of Wnt pathway genes in tumor and normal lung tissues.

Main Results:

  • Over half of lung squamous cell carcinoma samples showed dysregulated non-canonical Wnt pathway gene expression.
  • Identified specific gene expression relationships (WNT5A/FZD2, FZD3/DVL2, LRP5/SFRP4) in tumors lacking beta-catenin overexpression.
  • Demonstrated non-canonical Wnt pathway gene expression in normal lung tissue and its disruption in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • The non-canonical Wnt pathway is frequently disrupted in lung squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Findings suggest a more significant role for the non-canonical Wnt pathway in lung cancer than previously understood.
  • This pathway represents a potential target for future lung cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro11:14

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

Published on: December 10, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...