Role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in gastric cancer: An in-depth literature review

Abstract

Gastric cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide and one of the leading cause for cancerrelated deaths. Gastric adenocarcinoma is a multifactorial disease that is genetically, cytologically and architecturally more heterogeneous than other gastrointestinal carcinomas. The identification of specific membrane, intracellular, and extracellular components of the Wnt pathway has revealed potential targets for gastric cancer therapy. High-throughput "omics" approaches will help in the search for Wnt pathway antagonist in the near future.

Overexpression of MYC binding protein promotes invasion and migration in gastric cancer

“…Recently, researchers have demonstrated that 30-50% of GC cases are associated with the abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways (16,17). The TCF/LEF axis serves a crucial role in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (18).…”

Advanced Gastric Cancer in a Young Male Patient

“…GC is a multifactorial disease resulting from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors at the stomach mucosa level. 9 Cutsem EV et al stated that, a genetic basis causative mutations in CDH1 has been found in only around 40% of families affected by hereditary diffuse GC. GC have been found in people with other hereditary cancer syndromes, such as gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach syndrome, and in those with mutations in TP53 (Li-Fraumeni syndrome), APC (familial adenomatous polyposis), or STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome).…”

“…Therefore, most GC patients are diagnosed in advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis. 9 Common symptoms are weight loss, epigastric pain, vomiting, nausea, anorexia, dysphagia, bloating, and regurgitation. It was often initially misdiagnosed as dyspepsia syndrome.…”

“…It has been documented that patients with advanced stage GC have a poor prognosis with a fiveyear survival rate less than 15%. [12][13][14][15] …”

Wnt/FZD Genetics in Glioblastoma

“…Recent studies have focused in other components of the pathway and their contribution to cancer development. For example, APC, β-catenin, AXIN, WTX and TCF4 also contribute to the development of certain types of cancer [10,11].…”