Author(s) :

Dwight Qing Teng and Xixian Li .

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The Sonic Hedgehog (sHH) pathway is vital for embryonic development and adult tissue maintenance. Aberrant sHH pathway activation is implicated in tumors like basal cell carcinoma (BCC), medulloblastoma, and pancreatic cancer, prompting significant efforts to develop pathway inhibitors. Smoothened (SMO), a pivotal protein in the sHH signaling pathway, is a key drug target for the treatment of tumors. To date, many chemical compounds have been developed to target SMO, including vismodegib and sonidegib which have been approved by FDA to treat advanced BCC with aberrant sHH pathway activation. In this article, we review recent advances in drug development by targeting SMO to inhibit the sHH signaling pathway for tumor treatment.