Wnt/beta-catein signal activation plays a fundamental role in the development in the squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) characterized by oral squamous cancer (OSCC). Epigenetic inactivation of SFRP genes, that encode secreted WNT inhibitors, is frequently detected in OSCC. It is noteworthy that OSCC is not closely associated with mutational alterations in the APC, β-catenin, and AXIN1 genes.
In particular, nuclear beta-catenin localizes at the invasive front in carcinomas, reflecting in the enhanced expression of CD44 at the invasive front. Treatment of HNSCC cells with anti-WNT1 antibody attenuates proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death, while enhancing Wnt/beta-catenin signaling inhibits apoptosis, induces cell scattering and invasive growth in matrigel, and promotes HNSCC xenograft tumor growth in nude mice,
Ref. Int J Oncol 2008; 32:1253-1261, Cell Signal 2006;18:679-687 , Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014;443:622-7.
Sorry for the complicated explanation. In contrast to colon cancer, OSCC shows inactive mutation of SFRP, negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway.