The Wnts of change: How Wnts regulate phenotype switching in melanoma
MR Webster, CH Kugel III, AT Weeraratna - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta …, 2015 - Elsevier
MR Webster, CH Kugel III, AT Weeraratna
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Reviews on Cancer, 2015•ElsevierThe outgrowth of metastatic and therapy-resistant subpopulations in cancer remains a
critical barrier for the successful treatment of this disease. In melanoma, invasion and
proliferation are uncoupled, such that highly proliferative melanoma cells are less likely to
be invasive, and vice versa. The transition between each state is likely a dynamic rather than
a static, permanent change. This is referred to as “phenotype switching”. Wnt signaling
pathways drive phenotypic changes and promote therapy resistance in melanoma, as well …
critical barrier for the successful treatment of this disease. In melanoma, invasion and
proliferation are uncoupled, such that highly proliferative melanoma cells are less likely to
be invasive, and vice versa. The transition between each state is likely a dynamic rather than
a static, permanent change. This is referred to as “phenotype switching”. Wnt signaling
pathways drive phenotypic changes and promote therapy resistance in melanoma, as well …
Abstract
The outgrowth of metastatic and therapy-resistant subpopulations in cancer remains a critical barrier for the successful treatment of this disease. In melanoma, invasion and proliferation are uncoupled, such that highly proliferative melanoma cells are less likely to be invasive, and vice versa. The transition between each state is likely a dynamic rather than a static, permanent change. This is referred to as “phenotype switching”. Wnt signaling pathways drive phenotypic changes and promote therapy resistance in melanoma, as well as play roles in the modulation of the immune microenvironment. Three Wnt signaling pathways play a role in melanoma progression, canonical (β-catenin dependent), polar cell polarity (PCP), and the Wnt/Ca2 + pathway. Here we summarize phenotype plasticity and its role in therapy resistance and immune evasion. Targeting the Wnt signaling pathways may be an effective way to overcome tumor plasticity in melanoma.
Elsevier