Main description:

Inappropriate activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is observed in many human cancers and is sufficient to drive tumor initiation and progression in numerous contexts. Multiple mechanisms, such as overexpression of Wnt ligands, inactivation of the APC and Axin tumor suppressors, and mutation of -catenin, are responsible for pathway activation in tumor cells. The development of potent Wnt pathway antagonists for therapeutic use has been a major effort for investigators in both academia and industry in recent years. This book will provide an overview of the Wnt pathway as a therapeutic target for cancer, and discuss the preclinical development of inhibitors specifically directed to upstream and downstream components of the pathway.

Contents:

Chapter 1. An Introduction to Wnt Signaling

Paul Polakis

Chapter 2. Regulation of Wnt Secretion and Distribution

Xiaofang Tang Xiaolan Fan and Xinhua Lin

Chapter 3. Wnt Signaling in Stem Cells

Philipp C. Manegold, Jia-Ling and Teo Michael Kahn

Chapter 7. Use of Genetically-engineered Mouse Models in Identification and Validation of Therapeutic Targets for Colon Cancer

Masahiro Aoki and Makoto Mark Taketo

Chapter 8. Targeting Wnt Signalling in Cancer

Aliaksei Holik and Alan R. Clarke

Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University,Cardiff, UK

Chapter 9. Inhibiting the Wnt Signaling Pathway with Small Molecules

Ho-Jin Lee, Xinxin Zhang, and Jie J. Zheng

Chapter 10. Targeting of Wnt Signaling Inside the Nucleus

Miki Shitashige and Tesshi Yamada

Markus Muschen

Chapter 7. Use of Genetically-engineered Mouse Models in Identification and Validation of Therapeutic Targets for Colon Cancer

Masahiro Aoki and Makoto Mark Taketo

Chapter 8. Targeting Wnt Signalling in Cancer

Aliaksei Holik and Alan R. Clarke

Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University,Cardiff, UK

Chapter 9. Inhibiting the Wnt Signaling Pathway with Small Molecules

Ho-Jin Lee, Xinxin Zhang, and Jie J. Zheng

Chapter 10. Targeting of Wnt Signaling Inside the Nucleus

Miki Shitashige and Tesshi Yamada

Chapter 4. Crosstalk of the Wnt Signaling Pathway

Michael Thompson, Kari Nejak-Bowen, Satdarshan P. S. Monga

Chapter 5. Dysregulation of the WNT Pathway in Solid Tumors

Jenifer R. Prosperi, Hue H. Luu and Kathleen H. Goss

Chapter 6. WNT/b-catenin Signaling in Leukemia

Markus Muschen

Chapter 7. Use of Genetically-engineered Mouse Models in Identification and Validation of Therapeutic Targets for Colon Cancer

Masahiro Aoki and Makoto Mark Taketo

Chapter 8. Targeting Wnt Signalling in Cancer

Aliaksei Holik and Alan R. Clarke

Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University,Cardiff, UK

Chapter 9. Inhibiting the Wnt Signaling Pathway with Small Molecules

Ho-Jin Lee, Xinxin Zhang, and Jie J. Zheng

Chapter 10. Targeting of Wnt Signaling Inside the Nucleus

Miki Shitashige and Tesshi Yamada