Wnt secretion is required to maintain high levels of Wnt activity in colon cancer cells

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Oksana Voloshanenko - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Gerrit Erdmann - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Taronish D. Dubash - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Iris Augustin - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Marie Metzig - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Giusi Moffa - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Christian Hundsrucker - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Grainne Kerr - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Thomas Sandmann - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Benedikt Anchang - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Kubilay Demir - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christina Boehm - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Svenja Leible - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Claudia R. Ball - , German Cancer Research Center, partner site Dresden, Environmental Monitoring and Endocrinology (Research Group), National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Partner Site Freiburg (Author)
  • Hanno Glimm - , German Cancer Research Center, partner site Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Partner Site Freiburg (Author)
  • Rainer Spang - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Michael Boutros - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)

Abstract

Aberrant regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has an important role during the onset and progression of colorectal cancer, with over 90% of cases of sporadic colon cancer featuring mutations in APC or β-catenin. However, it has remained a point of controversy whether these mutations are sufficient to activate the pathway or require additional upstream signals. Here we show that colorectal tumours express elevated levels of Wnt3 and Evi/Wls/GPR177. We found that in colon cancer cells, even in the presence of mutations in APC or β-catenin, downstream signalling remains responsive to Wnt ligands and receptor proximal signalling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that truncated APC proteins bind β-catenin and key components of the destruction complex. These results indicate that cells with mutations in APC or β-catenin depend on Wnt ligands and their secretion for a sufficient level of β-catenin signalling, which potentially opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions by targeting Wnt secretion via Evi/Wls.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2610
JournalNature communications
Volume4
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 24162018
ORCID /0009-0003-2782-8190/work/198593727