The molecular mechanisms underlying cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are less well established than those for other common skin cancers, but recent evidence has highlighted a potentially critical role for WNT signaling in both the development and progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. WNT pathways are aberrantly regulated in multiple tumor types (albeit in a context-dependent manner), and this has stimulated the development of WNT inhibitory compounds for cancer treatment. In this review, we examine existing evidence for a role of WNT signaling in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and discuss if WNT inhibition represents a realistic therapeutic strategy for the future.
Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.