Hedgehog signaling: progenitor phenotype in small-cell lung cancer.
Recently, we have shown that small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is dependent on activation of Hedgehog signaling, an embryonic pathway implicated in development, morphogenesis and the regulation of stem cell fates. These findings form the framework for an emerging view of cancer as a process of aberrant organogenesis in which progenitor/ stem cells escape dependence on niche signaling through mutation in genes such as Ptch, or through persistent activation of progenitor cell pathways. Interestingly, the normally quiescent airway epithelial compartment uses the Hh pathway to repopulate itself when challenged by injury. How Hh signaling works to promote the malignant phenotype promises to be as important biologically as the promise of Hh pathway inhibitors are clinically.
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 572, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. nwatkins@jhmi.edu
D Neil
DN
Watkins
David M
DM
Berman
Stephen B
SB
Baylin
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators