Wnt signalling pathway in the serrated neoplastic pathway of the colorectum: possible roles and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms

J Clin Pathol. 2012 Aug;65(8):675-9. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200602. Epub 2012 Mar 12.

Abstract

The role of Wnt signalling in the serrated neoplastic pathway of colorectal tumourigenesis appears to be heterogeneous. Wnt pathway abnormalities contribute to the progression of at least a subset of traditional serrated adenomas of the colorectum, but may play a less active role in its pathogenesis compared with that in conventional adenoma-carcinoma. However, immunohistochemical studies of β-catenin in sessile serrated adenomas have shown wide variability, producing conflicting results on Wnt signalling activation in sessile serrated adenomas. DNA methylation, involving APC, SFRPs and mutated in colorectal cancer (MCC), may bridge the mutational gap of APC or β-catenin for activating Wnt signalling in serrated adenomas of the colorectum.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / genetics
  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA Methylation
  • Disease Progression
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin