Synthetic Small Molecule Inhibitors of Hh Signaling As Anti-Cancer Chemotherapeutics

Curr Med Chem. 2015;22(35):4033-57. doi: 10.2174/0929867322666150827093904.

Abstract

The hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a developmental signaling pathway that is essential to the proper embryonic development of many vertebrate systems. Dysregulation of Hh signaling has been implicated as a causative factor in the development and progression of several forms of human cancer. As such, the development of small molecule inhibitors of Hh signaling as potential anti-cancer chemotherapeutics has been a major area of research interest in both academics and industry over the past ten years. Through these efforts, synthetic small molecules that target multiple components of the Hh pathway have been identified and advanced to preclinical or clinical development. The goal of this review is to provide an update on the current status of several synthetic small molecule Hh pathway inhibitors and explore the potential of several recently disclosed inhibitory scaffolds.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemical synthesis
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases