Title:Wnt-β-catenin Signaling Pathway, the Achilles' Heels of Cancer Multidrug Resistance
Volume: 25
Issue: 39
Author(s): Morteza Ghandadi*, Reza Valadan, Hamidreza Mohammadi, Javad Akhtari, Shabanali Khodashenas and Sorour Ashari
Affiliation:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari,Iran
Keywords:
Wnt-β-catenin, cancer, multidrug resistance, cancer stem cell, miRNA, embryogenesis, chemotherapeutic.
Abstract:
Background: Most of the anticancer chemotherapies are hampered via the development of multidrug
resistance (MDR), which is the resistance of tumor cells against cytotoxic effects of multiple chemotherapeutic
agents. Overexpression and/or over-activation of ATP-dependent drug efflux transporters is a key mechanism
underlying MDR development. Moreover, enhancement of drug metabolism, changes in drug targets and aberrant
activation of the main signaling pathways, including Wnt, Akt and NF-κB are also responsible for MDR.
Methods: In this study, we have reviewed the roles of Wnt signaling in MDR as well as its potential therapeutic
significance. Pubmed and Scopus have been searched using Wnt, β-catenin, cancer, MDR and multidrug resistance
as keywords. The last search was done in March 2019. Manuscripts investigating the roles of Wnt signaling
in MDR or studying the modulation of MDR through the inhibition of Wnt signaling have been involved in the
study. The main focus of the manuscript is regulation of MDR related transporters by canonical Wnt signaling
pathway.
Result and conclusion: Wnt signaling has been involved in several pathophysiological states, including carcinogenesis
and embryonic development. Wnt signaling is linked to various aspects of MDR including P-glycoprotein
and multidrug resistance protein 1 regulation through its canonical pathways. Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-
catenin signaling leads to the induction of cancer MDR mainly through the overexpression and/or over-activation
of MDR related transporters. Accordingly, Wnt/β-catenin signaling can be a potential target for modulating cancer
MDR.