Wnt signalling and prostate cancer

The Wnt signalling pathway plays a role in the direction of embryological development and maintenance of stem cell populations. Heritable alterations in genes encoding molecules of the Wnt pathway, including mutation and epigenetic events, have been demonstrated in a variety of cancers. It has been proposed that disruption of this pathway is a significant step in the development of many tumours. Interactions between beta-catenin - the effector molecule of the Wnt pathway - and the androgen receptor highlight the pathway's relevance to urological malignancy. Mutation or altered expression of Wnt genes in tumours may give prognostic information and treatments are being developed which target this pathway.