title: Hedgehog signaling in basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer, is occasionally aggressive with deep invasion, destruction of adjacent structures, recurrence and, on very rare occasions, regional and distant metastases. Mutations that occur in BCC in hedgehog (Hh) pathway genes primarily involve the genes encoding patched homolog (PTCH) and smoothened homolog (SMO). Several animal models have demonstrated the functional relevance of genetic alterations in the Hh pathway during tumorigenesis. Recently, targeted therapy has become available both commercially and in the context of human clinical trials. Interestingly, Hh pathway inhibitors not only suppress BCC progression but also promote acquired immune responses. Since immune responses are crucial for long-term tumor control, new clinical trials, such as those involving a combination of Hh inhibitors with immune modifiers, are needed to supplement standard methods of tumor control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. Electronic address: otsukamn@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mitchell P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Levesque
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dummer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabashima
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000813:Anilides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor
chemical_list: D000813:Anilides; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C538724:HhAntag691; C000606236:PTCH1 protein, human; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011725:Pyridines; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C491023:SMO protein, human; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor
keywords: Acquired immune responses; Basal cell carcinoma; Hedgehog