Alterations of the Wnt signaling pathway during the neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus

Oncogene. 2006 May 18;25(21):3084-92. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209338.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway has been reported during neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus (BE). However, mutations in APC and CTNNB1 genes were rarely observed. In this study, expression pattern of Wnt ligands, Frizzled receptors and APC, as well as the methylation status of the APC, SFRP1 and SFRP2 promoter genes were investigated in normal esophageal mucosa and in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of BE patients. Promoter methylation of APC was found in all BE samples and in 95% of esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC). Full methylation of APC correlated with lack of expression. In EAC, nuclear translocation of beta-catenin was observed regardless of the expression of APC. WNT2 expression was higher in dysplasia and EAC than in BE, with 20/26 (77%) of the EAC showing high expression of WNT2. SFRP1 methylation occurred in all BE samples and in 96% of EAC, while SFRP2 was methylated in 73% of the normal squamous esophageal mucosa samples. In conclusion, (1) alterations of key regulators of the Wnt signaling are frequent in the pathogenesis of BE; (2) the APC and SFRP1 genes are inactivated by promoter methylation in BE; (3) the WNT2 gene is upregulated along the progression from low-grade dysplasia to EAC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology
  • Barrett Esophagus / genetics
  • Barrett Esophagus / metabolism*
  • Barrett Esophagus / pathology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor / metabolism
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation* / drug effects
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Decitabine
  • Disease Progression
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing* / drug effects
  • Genes, APC* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mucous Membrane / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • Precancerous Conditions / genetics
  • Precancerous Conditions / metabolism*
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Transfection
  • Wnt Proteins / physiology*
  • Wnt2 Protein / biosynthesis
  • Wnt2 Protein / genetics
  • Wnt2 Protein / physiology
  • beta Catenin / biosynthesis
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SFRP1 protein, human
  • SFRP2 protein, human
  • WNT2 protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt2 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • Decitabine
  • Azacitidine