β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）是一种在细胞稳态、胚胎发育、器官生成、干细胞维持、细胞增殖、迁移、分化、凋亡以及癌症等多种人类疾病的病理过程中起到重要作用的保守、多功能的蛋白。β-连环蛋白具有信号传导和黏附功能，作为细胞内信号传导的关键参与者之一，参与多样的WNT信号级联反应，调控胚胎发育、稳态和癌变。它还通过与E-钙粘附蛋白在细胞黏附连接点的相互作用，参与钙离子依赖的细胞黏附。异常的β-连环蛋白表达和核积累促进了各种癌基因如c-Myc和cyclinD1的转录，从而促进肿瘤的发生、发展和进展。β-连环蛋白的表达受到多个层面的调控，包括其稳定性、亚细胞定位以及转录活性。了解β-连环蛋白的分子调控机制和其非典型表达将为研究人员提供对癌症发生和进展的新见解，同时也有助于解析新的治疗途径。本综述总结了β-连环蛋白的双重功能、其在信号传导中的作用、相关突变以及其在不同癌症的发生和进展中的作用。此外，我们还讨论了目前可用药物针对β-连环蛋白的治疗的挑战，并提出了设计针对这一癌基因的新治疗方法的可能途径。

β-catenin is an evolutionary conserved, quintessential, multifaceted protein that plays vital roles in cellular homeostasis, embryonic development, organogenesis, stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and pathogenesis of various human diseases including cancer. β-catenin manifests both signaling and adhesive features. It acts as a pivotal player in intracellular signaling as a component of versatile WNT signaling cascade involved in embryonic development, homeostasis as well as in carcinogenesis. It is also involved in Ca2+ dependent cell adhesion via interaction with E-cadherin at the adherens junctions. Aberrant β-catenin expression and its nuclear accumulation promote the transcription of various oncogenes including c-Myc and cyclinD1, thereby contributing to tumor initiation, development, and progression. β-catenin's expression is closely regulated at various levels including its stability, sub-cellular localization, as well as transcriptional activity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of regulation of β-catenin and its atypical expression will provide researchers not only the novel insights into the pathogenesis and progression of cancer but also will help in deciphering new therapeutic avenues. In the present review, we have summarized the dual functions of β-catenin, its role in signaling, associated mutations as well as its role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression of various cancers. Additionally, we have discussed the challenges associated with targeting β-catenin molecule with the presently available drugs and suggested the possible way forward in designing new therapeutic alternatives against this oncogene.