Overview of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and DNA Damage/Repair in Cancer

Abstract

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway takes part in important cellular processes in tumor cells, such as gene expression, adhesion, and survival. The canonical pathway is activated in several tumors, and βcatenin is its major effector. The union of Wnt to the co-receptor complex causes the inhibition of GSK3β activity, thus preventing the phosphorylation and degradation of β-catenin, which accumulates in the cytoplasm, to subsequently be transported to the nucleus to associate with transcription factors. The relationship between Wnt/β-catenin and DNA damage/repair mechanisms has been a focus for the last few years. Studying the Wnt/β-catenin network interactions with DNA damage/repair proteins has become a successful research field. This review provides an overview of the participation of Wnt/β catenin in DNA damage/repair mechanisms and their future implications as targets for cancer therapy.