Targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Figure 1 Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway. Binding of Wnt protein initiates a cascade, which results in activation of β-catenin, its accumulation in the cytoplasm and translocation into the nucleus to enhance the transcription of target genes (Left); When Fz/LRP receptors are not engaged, CK1 and GSK3B sequentially phosphorylate Axin-bound β-catenin. Consequently, β-catenin is ubiquitinated and targeted for rapid destruction by the proteasome (Right).

Figure 2 Synergistic inhibition of proliferation of liver cancer stem cells targeting β-catenin and Ras/Raf/MAPK pathways. FH535 and Sorafenib combination on inhibition of [³H]-Thymidine incorporation in liver cancer stem cells (CD133⁺, CD44⁺ and CD24⁺) Calculated combination index (CI) of less than 1. From Galuppo et al[12] with permission of Anticancer Research.