title: The Prognostic Significance of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer.
abstract: Despite significant advances in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) the identification of new prognostic biomarkers continues to be a challenge. Since its initial discovery, the role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in carcinogenesis has been extensively studied. We herein review and comment on the prognostic significance of the Hh signaling pathway in CRC. The differential expression of Hh pathway components between malignant and nonmalignant conditions as well as correlation of Hh activation markers with various clinicopathological parameters and the effect on disease-free survival, overall survival, and disease recurrence in patients with CRC is summarized and discussed. According to the studies reviewed herein the activation of the Hh pathway seems to be correlated with adverse clinicopathological features and worse survival. However, to date study results show significant variability with regard to the effect on outcomes. Such results need to be interpreted carefully and emphasize the need for further well designed studies to characterize the actual influence of the Hh pathway in CRC prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsapakidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Natalia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Riobo Del Galdo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Papandreou
authors.affiliation: Scleroderma Programme, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, LMBRU, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Galdo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anthoney
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakellaridis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. Electronic address: kdimas@med.uth.gr.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dimas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Oncology, The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield, United Kingdom. Electronic address: kambkons1@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamposioras
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins
keywords: Clinicopathological; Differential expression; Malignancy; Prognosis; Survival