In 30 human cell lines derived from different origins, axin2 and hnkd were expressed only in human colon cancer cell lines that are known to have activating mutations in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.
The finding was reminiscent of a previously described family harboring an AXIN2 mutation which could be shown to segregate with both the tooth agenesis and the predisposition to colon cancer transmitted in this family.
AXIN2, an important regulator in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, takes part in regulating cell proliferation, cytometaplasia, migration, apoptosis and other important functions, has showed close relations with the development of liver cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and so on.