p16INK4a Is a β-Catenin Target Gene and Indicates Low Survival in Human Colorectal Tumors

Conclusions β-catenin/TCF4 regulates cell cycle promoting ( c-MYC, CYCLIN D 1 ) and inhibiting genes ( p16 INK4A ) at the same time in the mesenchymally differentiated tumor cells at the front of invasion. The function of p16 INK4A seems to supersede in this context thus leading to low proliferation. Moreover, these tumor cells seem to govern the outcome of colorectal cancer independently of their proliferation.