1. ¹Cancer & Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
2. ²Department of Urology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK

Correspondence: GW Yardy, Cancer & Immunogenetics Laboratory, Weatherall Insitute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. E-mail: george.yardy@cancer.org.uk

Received 13 November 2004; Revised 23 January 2005; Accepted 30 January 2005; Published online 5 April 2005.

Abstract

The Wnt signalling pathway plays a role in the direction of embryological development and maintenance of stem cell populations. Heritable alterations in genes encoding molecules of the Wnt pathway, including mutation and epigenetic events, have been demonstrated in a variety of cancers. It has been proposed that disruption of this pathway is a significant step in the development of many tumours. Interactions between -catenin—the effector molecule of the Wnt pathway—and the androgen receptor highlight the pathway's relevance to urological malignancy. Mutation or altered expression of Wnt genes in tumours may give prognostic information and treatments are being developed which target this pathway.