Catenins and their associated proteins in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in th e western world. Colorectal cancer has been well studied? and the genetic s teps involved in the adenoma to carcinoma sequence have been well elucidate d. The first genetic alteration, found in 85% of adenomas, are mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. However, the consequences of th is and the exact function of APC in the colon is not fully understood. It h as been suggested that APC could function through its regulation of beta-ca tenin, an ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein with multiple binding specificiti es resulting in diverse functions including cell growth, adhesion, and migr ation. Any change in these associations may play a role in colorectal cance r development and progression.