[Role of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in thoracic cancers]

Abstract

Introduction: Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway is physiologically activated during embryogenesis and development. It plays a role in idiopathic lung fibrosis and is also activated in several solid cancers.

State of the art: Shh pathway is reactivated in thoracic cancers, as small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Shh pathway is associated with cancer stem cells and seems to have a crucial role in tumor proliferation, aggressiveness and chemoresistance in these cancers. This review describes the activation mode of Shh pathway in thoracic cancers and its role in small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma, using in vitro and in vivo models. Notably, data from literature show that inhibition of Shh pathway has an antitumor action and sensitizes to chemotherapy.

Perspectives: These results incite to develop targeted therapies against Shh pathway in the treatment of thoracic cancers.

Keywords: Cancer bronchique non à petites cellules; Cancer bronchique à petites cellules; Chemoresistance; Chimiorésistance; Mesothelioma; Mésothéliome; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Small cell lung carcinoma; Sonic Hedgehog.