Wnt signaling pathway in cancer immunotherapy

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a highly conserved pathway that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, tissue homeostasis, and wound healing. Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway is intricately involved in almost all stages of tumorigenesis in various cancers. Through direct and/or indirect effects on effector T cells, T-regulatory cells, T-helper cells, dendritic cells, and other cytokine-expressing immune cells, abnormal activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling benefits immune exclusion and hinders T-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses. Activation of Wnt signaling results in increased resistance to immunotherapies. In this review, we summarize the process by which Wnt signaling affects cancer and immune surveillance, and the potential for targeting the Wnt-signaling pathway via cancer immunotherapy. •Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway is intricately involved in almost all stages of tumorigenesis in cancers.•Wnt signaling regulates effector T cells, dendritic cells, and other cytokine-expressing immune cells.•The abnormal activation of Wnt signal benefits immune exclusion and hinders T-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses.•Wnt signaling is correlated with increased resistance to immunotherapies like immune checkpoint blockers.