Vol.30 No.3 (2008 June): 312-316

Cancer Cell Hedgehog Signaling Pathway and Its Inhibitors

Gang Jin*, Jian-Guo Dai*, Zhi-Li Huang, Li-Jun Zhang, Yan Zhang, Shi-Min Li

(Cancer Stem Cell Research Group, School of Applied Chemistry and Biological Technology, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Shenzhen 518055, China)

Abstract There are growing data and evidence showing that cancer stem cells play pivotal roles in cancer growth, progression, metastasis, relapse, and multidrug-resistance. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway regulates embryonic development and adult stem cell self-renewal. Unfortunately, dysregulation of the pathway is related to tumorigenesis. These cancers include brain cancers, liver cancer, small-cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, basal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma, colon cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, and prostate cancer. In the present paper, the action mechanism of Hh pathway in tumorigenesis and cancer growth, and the pathway role in maintaining cancer stem cell renewal are emphasized. Meanwhile, the specific inhibitors of the pathway are introduced to show its potential significance in future cancer therapy. Finally, some new research directions of the pathway are suggested.

Key words cancer; hedgehog signaling pathway; cancer stem cell; inhibitors

Received: November 12, 2007 Accepted: February 27, 2008
The work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Plan of Shenzhen City (No.06KJba042) and the Project of Qian-Bai-Shi of Guangdong Province Education Department (No.0402)
*Corresponding author. Tel: 86-755-26019267, Fax: 86-755-26019169, E-mail:jingang@oa.szpt.net, jgdai@263.com