Mechanistically, we uncovered a significant positive correlation between WNT5A expression and YAP1 activity in human PDAC and demonstrated that WNT5A overexpression led to YAP1 activation and recapitulated a YAP1-dependent but Kras-independent phenotype of tumor progression and maintenance.
Overexpression of wingless-type MMTV integration site family 5A (WNT5A) plays a significant role in melanoma cancer progression; however, the mechanism(s) involved remains unknown.
These data indicate that WNT5A has a broader function on tumor progression and metastatic spread than previously known; by inducing exosome-release of immunomodulatory and pro-angiogenic factors that enhance the immunosuppressive and angiogenic capacity of the tumors thus rendering them more aggressive and more prone to metastasize.
The present study revealed that an overexpression of Wnt5a could produce more aggressive NSCLC, especially in squamous cell carcinomas, during tumor progression.