Nuclear beta-catenin in basal cell carcinoma correlates with increased proliferation

Abstract

The absence of beta-catenin gene mutations indicate that the Hh pathway-directed Wnt signalling remains the most likely cause of nuclear beta-catenin accumulation in BCC. Additionally, the correlation with increased proliferation is the first evidence that nuclear beta-catenin may have a biological effect. However, a causal link between Hh pathway deregulation, Wnt ligand overexpression, nuclear beta-catenin accumulation and increased proliferation remains to be confirmed.