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Targeting hedgehog signaling in cancer: research and clinical developments.

Onco Targets Ther. 2013;6:1425-1435

Authors: Xie J, Bartels CM, Barton SW, Gu D

Abstract
Since its first description in Drosophila by Drs Nusslein-Volhard and Wieschaus in 1980, hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been implicated in regulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, tissue polarity, stem cell maintenance, and carcinogenesis. The first link of Hh signaling to cancer was established through studies of Gorlin syndrome in 1996 by two independent teams. Later, it was shown that Hh signaling may be involved in many types of cancer, including skin, leukemia, lung, brain, and gastrointestinal cancers. In early 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the clinical use of Hh inhibitor Erivedge/vismodegib for treatment of locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinomas. With further investigation, it is possible to see more clinical applications of Hh signaling inhibitors. In this review, we will summarize major advances in the last 3 years in our understanding of Hh signaling activation in human cancer, and recent developments in preclinical and clinical studies using Hh signaling inhibitors.

PMID: 24143114 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

This economic evaluation study was performed to estimate the cost effectiveness of a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against invasive pneumococcal disease in a high-risk population. Herd immunity has developed as a result of pneumococcal serotypes used in 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants. Assuming a similar effect with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine would mean a reduction in disease burden over time. High-risk groups included those aged 2 years and older with chronic kidney, heart, liver or respiratory disease, splenic dysfunction, HIV infection or diabetes. It was assumed that the vaccine would have no effect in preventing non-bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia and vaccination of the high-risk group would start 2–3 years after the infan...

Conclusion The strengths of this study lie in its standardised assessment of exposure to pollution, the detailed information it had on potential confounders and its large population spread through a wide geographical area. However, it did not directly measure the women’s exposure to pollution but used estimates based on where they lived.  As the authors point out, there is always the possibility that pollution measures were misclassified, and also that confounders – both measured and unmeasured – affected the results. Individually, there is little we can do about reducing air pollution in urban environments.  But, hopefully, this research, along with similar studies, will help to persuade politicians, policymakers and planners to make more of an effort to create "greener&qu...

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide.1 Nearly 63% of men and 10% of women in Middle Eastern countries use tobacco.2 In North Africa, approximately 19% of all adults smoke tobacco.1 Public health efforts and the involvement of medical and health personnel have decreased smoking rates in most developed countries.3 The WHO MPOWER package of policies and interventions recommended the involvement of physicians and other healthcare professionals in reducing the tobacco burden.4 The package provides a reference model to implement tobacco control strategies that have been shown to reduce tobacco use.4 Several studies have been conducted in Europe and the USA to investigate the proficiency of medical students in treating tobacco dependence.5–10 Findings from two Europea...