17 citations
,
June 2017 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The article concludes that hair loss is a common side effect of drugs treating skin cancer by blocking the hedgehog pathway, but treatment should continue, and more selective drugs might prevent this side effect.
68 citations
,
November 2011 in “The American journal of pathology” Abnormal Hedgehog signaling in blood cancers may help tumors grow and resist chemotherapy, suggesting potential for targeted treatments.
November 2011 in “Molecular Cancer Therapeutics” The document discussed the role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in cancer, highlighting its involvement in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and repair. Dysregulation of this pathway was linked to various cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma, often due to mutations in pathway components like PTCH1 and SMO. The study noted that aberrant Hh signaling could occur through increased ligand levels rather than mutations, with autocrine and paracrine signaling models described in several cancers. The pathway was also implicated in cancer stem cell regulation, affecting self-renewal and differentiation. Efforts to develop Hh pathway inhibitors, such as Smo antagonists like vismodegib, showed promise in clinical trials, particularly for BCC. However, resistance and downstream mutations posed challenges, prompting exploration of alternative inhibitors targeting different pathway components. The document emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of Hh signaling mechanisms and interactions with other cellular pathways to enhance therapeutic strategies.
15 citations
,
October 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” New treatments targeting the Hedgehog pathway can help treat advanced skin cancer but may have side effects and their effectiveness in early stages is unknown.
December 2017 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Targeted therapy for skin cancer is complex due to the role of the hedgehog pathway in both cancer and hair growth.