Document Type : Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors
1
Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of The Punjab,Lahore, Pakistan.
2
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
3
Center for Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of The Punjab,Lahore, Pakistan.
4
OU Endocrinology, Dept. Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, via Ospedale 105, 35128 Padova, Italy.
5
AIROB, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Oncologica di Base, Padova, Italy.
6
Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran.
7
Food Safety Research Center (salt), Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
8
Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
Cellular maintenance and development are two fundamental mechanisms regulated by the canonical Wnt signaling
pathway. Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway controls a myriad of cellular processes that are essential for normal cell
functioning. Cell cycle progression, differentiation, fate determination, and migration are generally orchestrated by
canonical Wnt signaling. Altered Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has been considered a promoting event for different types
of cancers and the oncogenic potential of Wnt signaling have been discussed in many cancer types, including breast,
colon, pancreatic as well as head and neck. Furthermore, Wnt signaling is critical for the maintenance and stemness
of both the normal as well as cancer stem cells. This review sheds new light on Wnt signaling and explains how it can
regulate normal physiological processes and curtail the development of cancer. It depicts the vital functions of Wnt
signaling in the stem cell growth and differentiation by focusing on current druggable targets that have been ascribed
by recent studies. Thus, Wnt signaling pathway retains a tremendous potential in eradicating head and neck squamous
cell carcinoma.
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