Wnt5a Plays Controversial Roles in Cancer Progression.

Wnt5a is a representative Wnt ligand that regulates multiple cellular functions through the Wnt5a non-classical pathway. Although Wnt5a has been implicated in various pathological conditions, its role in cancer is ambiguous and might involve methyl modifications, distinct mRNA isoforms, as well as different downstream pathways. Therefore, it is an essential factor in cancers' progression (invasion, migration, proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition), and a potential biomarker for prognosis and treatment.