Figure 1.

Relationship between epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the Wnt pathway in glioblastoma-derived stem cells (GSCs). As discussed in the text of the review, a possible relationship seems to exist between the EMT process, which favors the self-renewal, migration and resistance to therapy of cancer stem cells, including GSCs, and the Wnt signals, which, when deranged, as it occurs in GSCs, can activate/cooperate with EMT downstream factors (Snail, Twist, and Zeb1) creating a vicious cycle able to potentiate the activity of upstream factors. The explanation for the abbreviations used are the following: histone acetyltransferase CREB binding protein (CBP); WIF: Wnt inhibitory factor; SFRP: Secreted frizzled-related protein; DKK: Dickkopf; DVL: Dishevelled; GSK3β: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 β; CK: Casein kinase; APC: Adenomatous polyposis coli; TCF/LEF: T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor; JNK: Jun N terminal kinase.