Beta-catenin is involved in cell
adhesion through catenin-cadherin complexes and as a transcriptional regulator
in the Wnt signaling pathway. Its deregulation is important in the genesis of a
number of human malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer. The ß-Catenin
adhesion complex is crucial for intercellular adhesiveness and maintenance of
tissue architecture. Its impairment is associated with poorly differentiated
phenotype and increased invasiveness of carcinomas. Dysregulation of these
pathways allow Beta-catenin to accumulate and translocate to the nucleus, where
it may activate oncogenes. Such nuclear accumulation can be detected by
immunohistochemistry, which may be useful in diagnosis. Catenins link E-cadherin
to other integral membrane or cytoplasmic proteins and are modulated by Wnt1
proto-oncogene. The central core region of ß-Catenin is involved in mediation of
cadherin complex interaction with EGFR. ß-Catenin signaling has been shown to
have a role in the regulation of angiogenesis and cytoplasmic localization of
ß-Catenin has been demonstrated as a marker of poor outcome in breast cancer
patients.