Activation of Wnt and Myc signaling in hepatoblastoma

Abstract

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common type of pediatric liver cancer. This tumor is thought to derive from hepatic progenitor cells that are arrested at various stages of liver development, as illustrated by a variety of histologic subtypes. Recent genomic studies have led to better understand the molecular pathogenesis of HB, to point out the crucial roles of the Wnt Myc signaling pathways in malignant transformation of liver progenitor cells. Molecular classification of HB based on genome-wide studies, as well as identification of reliable diagnostic prognostic markers, open the way to the development of new personalized targeted therapies for the management of aggressive lethal childhood tumors.