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Recent Development of Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitors for Cancer Therapeutics

  • Evolving Therapies (RM Bukowski, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Review current understanding of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in cancer and provide updated knowledge in current clinical trials of Wnt signaling drugs.

Recent Findings

Important roles of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in cancer have been increasingly recognized. Recent clinical trials of several Wnt-signaling drugs have showed promising outcomes. In addition, some drugs that were originally approved for the treatment of other diseases have been recently found to block Wnt signaling, highlighting their potential to treat Wnt-dependent cancer.

Summary

Dysfunction of Wnt signaling is implicated in cancer, and targeting Wnt signaling represents a useful approach to treat cancer. Current clinical trials of Wnt signaling drugs have showed promising outcomes, and repurposing the previously approved drugs for other diseases to treat Wnt-dependent cancer requires further studies.

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Funding

This work was supported by start-up funds from Western University of Health Sciences to J.H.

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  1. Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA

    Jerry Harb, Pen-Jen Lin & Jijun Hao

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E 2nd Street, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA

    Jijun Hao

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  1. Jerry Harb
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Harb, J., Lin, PJ. & Hao, J. Recent Development of Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitors for Cancer Therapeutics. Curr Oncol Rep 21, 12 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-019-0763-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-019-0763-9

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