Hedgehog signal pathway and the mechanism of tumorigenesis

As one of the most major disease,malignant tumor is harmful to human health.Althought it' s exact pathogenesis is still not clear,it is certainly that the formation of cancer is typical of containing many factors and having gone through many steps.Resulting from the abnormal activation of a series of proto-oncogene as well as the inactivation caused by many anti-oncogene mutation,some signal pathways work abnormally.In recent years,the study of Hedgehog ( Hh),as the signal pathway,shows that Hh encodes a series of secreted signaling protein,having an important effect on the differentiation and proliferation of cells in the process of embryogenesis.The occurrence of abnormal activation of Hh signaling pathway plays a significant role in the process of tumorigenesis.Signal paths of Hh signaling protein include as much as following at least:patched(Ptch),smoothened (Smo),fused (Fu),suppressor of fused (SuFu),costaⅠ-2 (Cos)-2 and cubitus interruptus (Ci) and so on.In this paper,the function of Hh genetic family and the mechanism of its relation to many kinds of human cancers will be givien a brief overview. Key words: Hedgehog signal pathway;  Patched;  Smoothened; Gli; Tumor