title: Hedgehog signaling pathway as a therapeutic target  in various types of cancer.
abstract: Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is an important factor in growth and patterning during embryonic development. A mutation in Patched, Smoothened or Gli1, which regulate the Hh signaling pathway, might lead to the onset of glioblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Recently, Hh signaling has been reported to be activated in a ligand-dependent manner, contributing to carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Hedgehog signaling is reactivated in various types of cancer, and this contributes to cancer progression by facilitating proliferation, invasion and cell survival. Moreover, Hh signaling is associated with several other signaling pathways that contribute to cancer progression. These observations indicate that controlling Hh signaling might become a target for novel molecular targeting therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Therapy and Research, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. ohnishi@surg1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1