The Wnt genes encode a family of secreted extracellular signaling glycoproteins, which function in a variety of important developmental processes such as regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Wnt proteins also play roles in carcinogenesis. Wnt-14, rather than Wnt-15, is preferentially expressed in various types of human cancer. Wnt-15 is expressed in fetal and adult kidney and is most homologous to Wnt-14. Wnt-16, another member in the Wnt family, has two mRNA isoforms, Wnt-16a ａnd