Jin Wang^*, Wenquan Pang^*, Zhenbai Zuo^*, Wenyan Zhang^*, Weidong He^†

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.8, pp. 1297-1304, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504017X14873430389189

Abstract Spinal osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant tumor that has a poor outcome. MicroRNA-520b (miR-520b) acts as a cancer suppressor in various types of cancer. Because of the limited amount of literature on OS, we aimed to identify the role of miR-520b in OS. The miR-520b level in clinical spinal OS tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues as well as in cell lines was assessed. The effect of miR-520b on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and frizzled-8 (FZD8) degradation were all evaluated. Alterations of key proteins involved in the Wnt/b-catenin pathway were assessed by Western blot analysis. In… More >

Ping Yin^*, Wei Wang^*, Jian Gao^†, Yu Bai^*, Zhuo Wang^*, Lei Na^*, Yu Sun^*, Chenghai Zhao^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.3, pp. 273-284, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15783052025051

Abstract Cancer cell stemness is responsible for cancer relapse, distal metastasis, and drug resistance. Here we identified that Frizzled 2 (Fzd2), one member of Wnt receptor Frizzled family, induced human breast cancer (BC) cell stemness via noncanonical Wnt pathways. Fzd2 was overexpressed in human BC tissues, and Fzd2 overexpression was associated with an unfavorable outcome. Fzd2 knockdown (KD) disturbed the mesenchymallike phenotype, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Moreover, Fzd2 KD impaired BC cell mammosphere formation, reduced Lgr5+ BC cell subpopulation, and enhanced sensitivity of BC cells to chemical agents. Mechanistically, Fzd2 modulated and bound with More >

Yu Sun, Wei Wang, Chenghai Zhao

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 661-674, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X16014648664459

Abstract Wnt molecules play crucial roles in development and adult homeostasis through their receptors Frizzled proteins (Fzds). Fzds mediate canonical b-catenin pathway and various noncanonical b-catenin-independent pathways. Aberrant Fzd signaling is involved in many diseases including cancer. Wnt/b-catenin is a well-established oncogenic pathway involved in almost every aspect of tumor development. However, Fzd-mediated noncanonical Wnt pathways function as both tumor promoters and tumor suppressors depending on cellular context. Fzd-targeted therapies have proven to be effective on cultured tumor cells, tumor cell xenografts, mouse tumor models, and patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Moreover, Fzd-targeted therapies synergize with chemotherapy in More >