Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers

Abstract The WNT6 ligand is a well-known activator of the WNT signaling pathway, considered a vital player in several important physiologic processes during embryonic development and maintaining homeostasis throughout life, regulating the proliferation and differentiation of multiple stem/progenitor...

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Main Authors: Joana M. Ferreira, Céline S. Gonçalves, Bruno M. Costa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-024-01892-4
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author Joana M. Ferreira
Céline S. Gonçalves
Bruno M. Costa
author_facet Joana M. Ferreira
Céline S. Gonçalves
Bruno M. Costa
author_sort Joana M. Ferreira
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The WNT6 ligand is a well-known activator of the WNT signaling pathway, considered a vital player in several important physiologic processes during embryonic development and maintaining homeostasis throughout life, regulating the proliferation and differentiation of multiple stem/progenitor cell types. More recently, as it is the case for many key molecular regulators of embryonic development, dysregulation of WNT6 has been implicated in cancer development and progression in multiple studies. In this review, we overview the most significant recent findings regarding WNT6 in the context of human malignancies, exploring its influence on multiple dimensions of tumor pathophysiology and highlighting the putative underlying WNT6-associated molecular mechanisms. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of WNT6 as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker. This critical review highlights the emerging relevance of WNT6 in multiple human cancers, and its potential as a clinically-useful biomarker, addressing key unanswered questions that could lead to new opportunities in patient diagnosis, stratification, and the development of rationally-designed precision therapies.
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series Cell Communication and Signaling
spelling doaj-art-773c252a0f1545db8f2abc416cc65e212024-11-17T12:38:43ZengBMCCell Communication and Signaling1478-811X2024-11-0122111810.1186/s12964-024-01892-4Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancersJoana M. Ferreira0Céline S. Gonçalves1Bruno M. Costa2Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of MinhoAbstract The WNT6 ligand is a well-known activator of the WNT signaling pathway, considered a vital player in several important physiologic processes during embryonic development and maintaining homeostasis throughout life, regulating the proliferation and differentiation of multiple stem/progenitor cell types. More recently, as it is the case for many key molecular regulators of embryonic development, dysregulation of WNT6 has been implicated in cancer development and progression in multiple studies. In this review, we overview the most significant recent findings regarding WNT6 in the context of human malignancies, exploring its influence on multiple dimensions of tumor pathophysiology and highlighting the putative underlying WNT6-associated molecular mechanisms. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of WNT6 as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker. This critical review highlights the emerging relevance of WNT6 in multiple human cancers, and its potential as a clinically-useful biomarker, addressing key unanswered questions that could lead to new opportunities in patient diagnosis, stratification, and the development of rationally-designed precision therapies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-024-01892-4WNT6WNT pathwayCancerAggressivenessPrecision oncologyTumor
spellingShingle Joana M. Ferreira
Céline S. Gonçalves
Bruno M. Costa
Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
Cell Communication and Signaling
WNT6
WNT pathway
Cancer
Aggressiveness
Precision oncology
Tumor
title Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
title_full Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
title_fullStr Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
title_full_unstemmed Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
title_short Emerging roles and biomarker potential of WNT6 in human cancers
title_sort emerging roles and biomarker potential of wnt6 in human cancers
topic WNT6
WNT pathway
Cancer
Aggressiveness
Precision oncology
Tumor
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-024-01892-4
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AT celinesgoncalves emergingrolesandbiomarkerpotentialofwnt6inhumancancers
AT brunomcosta emergingrolesandbiomarkerpotentialofwnt6inhumancancers