Frizzled Activates β-Catenin-Dependent and β-Catenin-Independent Wnt Signalling Pathways During Developmental Morphogenesis: Implications for Therapeutic Targeting in Colorectal Cancer.

Frizzled activates β-catenin-dependent and β-catenin-independent Wnt signalling pathways, is highly conserved through evolution from the ancient phylum hydra to man, plays essential roles in stem cells, tissue homeostasis and regeneration in the adult, and is upregulated in diverse cancers. Much of what is known about the core components of the Wnt signalling pathways was derived from studying the function of Frizzled orthologues in the development of lower organism. As we interrogate Frizzled signalling and function for therapeutic targeting in cancer, it is timely to revisit lower organisms to gain insight into the context dependent and dynamic nature of Wnt signalling for effective drug design.