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Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity Signaling: New Opportunities for Cancer Treatment

Avais M Daulat1, Jean-Paul Borg1

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Aix Marseille Univ UM105, Inst Paoli-Calmettes, UMR7258 CNRS, U1068 INSERM, 'Cell Polarity, Cell Signalling, and Cancer - Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer', Marseille, France.

Trends in Cancer
|July 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells rely on extracellular signals, including Wingless/Int-1 (Wnt) ligands, for growth and survival. The Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is a key player in cancer development and a promising therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Cancer cells depend on extracellular cues for critical processes like initiation, stem cell renewal, tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance.
  • Wingless/Int-1 (Wnt) signaling pathways are deeply involved in these cancer-promoting processes, offering potential therapeutic targets.
  • The Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, a recently identified branch of Wnt signaling, is significantly implicated in both early and late stages of cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the latest scientific knowledge on the Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway.
  • To elucidate the role of the Wnt/PCP pathway in various stages of cancer development.
  • To identify and discuss promising therapeutic strategies targeting components of the Wnt/PCP pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent findings on the Wnt/PCP pathway.
  • Analysis of the Wnt/PCP pathway's involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and resistance.
  • Survey of current therapeutic strategies targeting Wnt/PCP signaling.

Main Results:

  • The Wnt/PCP pathway is crucial for multiple cancer hallmarks, including cell proliferation, migration, and stemness.
  • Dysregulation of Wnt/PCP signaling is observed across various cancer types and stages.
  • Several molecular components of the Wnt/PCP pathway are being explored as targets for novel cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • The Wnt/PCP pathway represents a significant area of research in oncology due to its fundamental role in cancer.
  • Targeting the Wnt/PCP pathway holds promise for developing new anti-cancer treatments.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the complexities of Wnt/PCP signaling in cancer and optimize therapeutic interventions.

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