Identification of a small molecule inhibitor of the hedgehog signaling pathway: effects on basal cell carcinoma-like lesions

JA Williams, OM Guicherit… - Proceedings of the …, 2003 - National Acad Sciences
JA Williams, OM Guicherit, BI Zaharian, Y Xu, L Chai, H Wichterle, C Kon, C Gatchalian…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003National Acad Sciences
The link between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh)
signaling pathway has been well established in humans and in mouse models. Here we
report the development of assays, including two novel in vitro BCC models, which allowed
us to screen for Hh inhibitors and test their validity as potential treatments for BCC. We
identified a novel small molecule Hh inhibitor (CUR61414) that can block elevated Hh
signaling activity resulting from oncogenic mutations in Patched-1. Moreover, CUR61414 …
The link between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been well established in humans and in mouse models. Here we report the development of assays, including two novel in vitro BCC models, which allowed us to screen for Hh inhibitors and test their validity as potential treatments for BCC. We identified a novel small molecule Hh inhibitor (CUR61414) that can block elevated Hh signaling activity resulting from oncogenic mutations in Patched-1. Moreover, CUR61414 can suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of basaloid nests in the BCC model systems, whereas having no effect on normal skin cells. These findings directly demonstrate that the use of Hh inhibitors could be a valid therapeutic approach for treating BCC.
National Acad Sciences