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PMID: 20545610 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Hedgehog signaling in the normal and neoplastic mammary gland.

Current drug targets ·Vol. 11 ·No. 9 ·2010-09-00 ·Pages 1103-11

Visbal AP, Lewis MT

Abstract

The hedgehog signal transduction network is a critical regulator of metazoan development. Inappropriate activation of this network is implicated in several different cancers, including breast. Genetic evidence in mice as well as molecular biological studies in human cells clearly indicate that activated signaling can lead to mammary hyperplasia and, in some cases, tumor formation. However, the exact role(s) activated hedgehog signaling plays in the development or progression of breast cancer also remain unclear. In this review, we have discussed recent data regarding the mechanism(s) by which the hedgehog network may signal in the mammary gland, as well as the data implicating activated signaling as a contributing factor to breast cancer development. Finally, we provide a brief update on the available hedgehog signaling inhibitors with respect to ongoing clinical trials, some of which will include locally advanced or metastatic breast cancers. Given the growing intensity with which the hedgehog signaling network is being studied in the normal and neoplastic mammary gland, a more complete understanding of this network should allow more effective targeting of its activities in breast cancer treatment or prevention.

MeSH Terms
Animals Breast Neoplasms/genetics,metabolism,pathology Female Hedgehog Proteins/genetics,metabolism Humans Mammary Glands, Animal/growth & development,metabolism,pathology Mammary Glands, Human/growth & development,metabolism,pathology Mice Mice, Knockout Mice, Transgenic Signal Transduction
Chemicals
Hedgehog Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Visbal Adriana P
The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM600, Room N1210, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Lewis Michael T
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Article Info
Journal
Current drug targets
Abbr.
Curr Drug Targets
ISSN
1873-5592
DOI
10.2174/138945010792006753
Published
2010-09-00
Pages
1103-11
Language
English
Region
United Arab Emirates
NLM ID
100960531
PMCID
PMC5499530
Subset
IM
Grants
NCI NIH HHS · P01 CA030195 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA127857 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · R01 CA127857-01A1 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.2174/138945010792006753 PMC Full Text View journal details
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