The Hedgehog pathway in mutation-driven cancer

Summary

Reactivation of the Hedgehog pathway in adult tissues may be linked to the development of cancer.¹ This may occur via genetic alterations in Hedgehog pathway components or excessive secretion of Hedgehog ligands. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma are 2 types of cancer that exhibit mutation-driven Hedgehog signaling. The most frequent genetic aberrations are inactivating mutations in PTCH, the gene for the Patched protein,^2-6 and activating mutations in SMO, the gene for the Smoothened protein.^7,8