Hedgehog signaling activation in human cancer and its clinical implications, 2011

Understanding the role of hedgehog signaling in cancer is critically important for novel cancer therapeutics. The hedgehog pathway is a major pathway regulating cell differentiation, tissue polarity, stem cell maintenance and cell proliferation. It is known by now that activation of this pathway occurs in a variety of human cancer, including basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), medulloblastomas, leukemia, gastrointestinal, lung, ovarian, breast and prostate cancers. This book provides insightful views suitable for graduate students, medical students, undergraduate students, basic and clinical scientists, cancer patients as well as the general public.

Chapter 1- Overview of hedgehog signaling pathway

Chi-chung HuiandJin Jiang

Chapter 2- Regulation of Hh morphogene gradient

G. D’Angelo, F. Wendler, K. Ayers and P.P. Thérond

Chapter 3- Smoothened Signaling through a G-protein Effector Network

David J. Robbins and Stacey K. Ogden

Chapter 4- Kinases and phosphatases in hedgehog signaling

Jianhang Jia

Chapter 5- Signaling Cross-talk of Oncogenic KRAS and Hedgehog Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer

Xiaodong Cheng

Chapter 6- Crosstalks between PKC and hedgehog signaling

Jing Li and Mark Evers

Chapter 7- Activation of Hh signaling in human cancer

Jingwu Xie and Ervin Epstein

 Chapter 8- Hedgehog signaling in pediatric brain tumors

Joon Won Yoon, Ph.D., Jason Fangusaro, M.D., Philip Iannaccone, M.D., Ph.D., and David Walterhouse, M.D.

Chapter 9- Hedgehog Signaling in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Adriana P. Visbaland Michael T. Lewis

Chapter 10- Hedgehog signaling and cancer therapeutic resistance

K.S. Clifford Chao and Yu-Jen Chen

Chapter 11- Small-molecule Inhibitors of the Hedgehog Pathway

Ari J. Firestone and James K. Chen

Chapter 12- Cyclopamine and its derivatives for cancer therapeutics

Martin Tremblay and Karen McGovern

Presents up-to-date information in this exciting research area

Summarizes major advances made on hedgehog signaling mechanisms, activation of the pathway in various human cancer types

Highlights current challenges in our efforts to translate the basic biology into clinic

Provides insightful views suitable for graduate, undergraduate, and medical students, basic and clinical scientists, cancer patients as well as the general public

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras