THD EME ARTICLE y Gynecologic Cancer Review For reprint orders, please contact
[email protected] Role of canonical Wnt signaling in endometrial carcinogenesis Expert Rev. Anticancer Ther. 12(1), 51–62 (2012) Thanh H Dellinger*1, While the role of Wnt signaling is well established in colorectal carcinogenesis, its function in Kestutis Planutis2, gynecologic cancers has not been elucidated. Here, we describe the current state of knowledge Krishnansu S Tewari1 of canonical Wnt signaling in endometrial cancer (EC), and its implications for future therapeutic b and Randall F targets. Deregulation of the Wnt/ -catenin signaling pathway in EC occurs by inactivating 2 b-catenin mutations in approximately 10–45% of ECs, and via downregulation of Wnt antagonists Holcombe by epigenetic silencing. The Wnt pathway is intimately involved with estrogen and progesterone, 1Divison of Gynecologic Oncology, and emerging data implicate it in other important signaling pathways, such as mTOR and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Hedgehog. While no therapeutic agents targeting the Wnt signaling pathway are currently in Irvine,Medical Center, 101 The City clinical trials, the preclinical data presented suggest a role for Wnt signaling in uterine Drive, Building 56, Room 260, Orange, carcinogenesis, with further research warranted to elucidate the mechanism of action and to CA 92868, USA proceed towards targeted cancer drug development. 2Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Tisch Cancer Institute of Mount Sinai School KEYWORDS: b-catenin • canonical Wnt signaling • carcinogenesis • endometrial cancer • novel therapeutic targets of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, • Wnt antagonists USA *Author for correspondence: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common predict prognosis based on a surgical pathology Tel.: +1 714 456 8020 Fax: +1 714 456 7754 gynecologic malignancy in the USA, with an study carried out by the Gynecologic Oncology
[email protected] estimated 46,470 cases diagnosed in 2011 [1].