| WNT
SIGNALLING AND PROSTATE CANCER
George Yardy, Sir Walter Bodmer, Simon Brewster Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory |
The Wnt signalling pathway functions inside cells to control development and is particularly important in directing growth of the embryo. Cancer can result when the pathway is disrupted. Abnormalities in the pathway have previously been found in tumours of several other organs. The central component of the pathway also activates the androgen receptor, which is a key molecule in the development of prostate cancer.
In a study undertaken in Oxford, supported by the Prostate Research Campaign UK, abnormal activation of the Wnt pathway in prostate cancer has been further assessed. Tissue from men with prostate cancer, who had had a transuretheral prostatectomy (TURP) to allow them to pass water better, was analysed. Mutations in genes of the Wnt pathway were frequently found.
Treatments are currently being developed which target cancer cells in which the Wnt pathway is disrupted and this study supports the further evaluation of such treatments in prostate cancer.
Research summary dated 06 February 2006
Project 2003/10