Activation of Wnt signaling inhibits the pro-apoptotic role of Notch in gastric cancer cells.

Notch and Wnt signaling play critical roles in the regulation of development and diseases. Several studies have previously reported that Notch may be a therapeutic target in the treatment of various types of human cancer. In this study, we report that activation of Notch1 inhibits the proliferation of BGC-823 gastric cancer cells. However, the activation of the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway promotes the growth of BGC-823 cells. Furthermore, the combinational activation of the two signaling pathways promotes the proliferation of BGC-823 cells. These data suggest that the activation of Wnt signaling overcomes the pro-apoptotic role of Notch in BGC-823 gastric cancer cells.