Blocking the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to treat colorectal cancer: Strategies to improve current therapies (Review)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumor types occurring in the digestive system. The incidence of CRC has exhibits yearly increases and the mortality rate among patients with CRC is high. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is associated with carcinogenesis, is abnormally activated in CRC. Most patients with CRC have adenomatous polyposis coli mutations, while half of the remaining patients have β-catenin gene mutations. Therefore, targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway for the treatment of CRC is of clinical value. In recent years, with in-depth research on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inhibitors have been developed that are able to suppress or hinder the development and progression of CRC. In the present review, the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in CRC is summarized, the research status on Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors is outlined and potential targets for inhibition of this pathway are presented.