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World J Clin Cases. Mar 26, 2022; 10(9): 2678-2686
Published online Mar 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i9.2678
Roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related microRNAs in esophageal cancer
Chao-Yang Chu, Rui Wang, Xian-Li Liu
Chao-Yang Chu, Xian-Li Liu, Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
Rui Wang, Oncology, Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xian-Li Liu, BMed, MD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 636 Guanlin Road, Luolong District, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China. xqyywcwk@163.com
Received: December 12, 2020
Peer-review started: December 12, 2020
First decision: October 11, 2021
Revised: October 25, 2021
Accepted: February 15, 2022
Article in press: February 15, 2022
Published online: March 26, 2022
Processing time: 465 Days and 4.2 Hours
Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded small RNAs that regulate expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes and are involved in almost all tumor-related processes. MiRNA dysregulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer through specific signal pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and is closely related to the malignant characteristics of esophageal cancer. The interaction between miRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is specifically expressed in esophageal cancer tissues, shows potential as a new biomarker and therapeutic target. This article reviews the role of miRNAs related to the Wnt pathway in the carcinogenesis of esophageal carcinoma and its role in Wnt signal transduction. The content of this review can be used as the basis for formulating or improving the treatment strategy of esophageal cancer.

Keywords: Wnt signal pathway; MicroRNA; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal cancer tissues

Core tip: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) related to the Wnt pathway are regulated in varying degrees in esophageal cancer. They regulate the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, radiosensitivity, autophagy, phenotype and chemotherapy resistance of esophageal cancer cells and promote stem-cell-like characteristics of esophageal cancer cells. The interaction between the Wnt signaling pathway and miRNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. These results suggest that the miRNA-Wnt signaling pathway can be used as a potential target for tumor therapy and a diagnostic index for predicting treatment response.