A Wnt-er wonderland--the complexity of Wnt signaling in melanoma

Abstract

Wnt signaling is a complex process that requires the interplay of several different proteins. In addition to a large cohort of Wnt ligands, and frizzled receptors, some Wnt pathways also require the presence of co-receptors. Wnt ligands may activate one of three pathways, the canonical pathway, involving beta -catenin, the planar cell polarity pathway and the Wnt/ calcium pathway. All three pathways have different results for the cells in which they signal. Aberrant activation of these pathways can lead to the development and progression of several cancers. In this review we will discuss the different Wnt pathways, and their contribution to melanoma progression.