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Description

Drug resistance is a big problem in cancer treatment. Just when you think cancer has been defeated it can come back with a vengeance.

Adrian, Diya & Victoria explore the question "could targeting the hedgehog pathways for drug resistant cancers?" Tune in to find out!

References:

[1] World Health Organization (2024). Global cancer burden growing amidst mounting need for services. Geneva: WHO. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing--amidst-mounting-need-for-services

[2] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023). Cancer data in Australia. Canberra: AIHW. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/overview

[3] Cancer Research UK (date unknown). Types of cancer. London: Cancer Research UK. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-starts/types-of-cancer

[4] MedlinePlus (2022). Types of cancer treatment. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000901.htm

[5] National Cancer Institute (date unknown). What is cancer?. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

[6] Nguyen, N.M., Cho, J. (2022). Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors as Targeted Cancer Therapy and Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(3), 1733.

[7] Jing, J., Wu, Z., Wang, J., et al. (2023). Hedgehog Signaling in Tissue Homeostasis, Cancers, and Targeted Therapies. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 8(1).

[8] Nguyen, N.M., Cho, J. (2022). Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors as Targeted Cancer Therapy and Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(3), 1733.

[9] Zito, P.M., Nassereddin, A., Scharf, R. (2021). Vismodegib. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513360/

[10] Wang, J., Chan, D.K.W., Sen, A., Ma, W.W., Straubinger, R.M. (2019). Tumor Priming by SMO Inhibition Enhances Antibody Delivery and Efficacy in a Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Model. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 18(11), 2074–2084.

[11] Barker, C.A., Dufault, S., Arron, S.T., et al. (2024). Phase II Single-Arm Trial of Induction and Concurrent Vismodegib With Curative-Intent Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced, Unresectable Basal Cell Carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(19), 2327–2335.

[12] Xu, C., Wang, B., Xu, T., et al. (2025). EZH2 inhibitor and Vismodegib Synergistically Inhibit the Growth and Metastasis of Medulloblastoma. Medical Oncology, 42(6).

[13] Sekulic, A., Migden, M.R., Oro, A.E. et al. (2012). Efficacy and Safety of Vismodegib in Advanced Basal-Cell Carcinoma. The New England Journal of Medicine, 366 (23), 2171-2179.

[14] Chang, A.L.S., Oro, M.R. (2012). Initial Assessment of Tumour Regrowth After Vismodegib in Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma. Archive of Dermatology, 148(11), 1324.

[15] Atwood, S.X., Sarin, K.Y., Whitson, R.J. et al. (2015). Smoothened Variants Explain the Majority of Drug Resistance in Basal Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Cell, 27(3), 342-353.

[16] Danial, C., Sarin, K.Y., Oro, A.E., Chang, A.L.S. (2016). An Investigator-Initiated Open-Label Trial of Sonidegib in Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma Patients Resistant to Vismodegib. Clinical Cancer Research, 22(6), 1325-1329.

[17] Morinello, E., Pignatello, M., Villabruna, L., Goelzer, P., Burgin, H. (2014). Embryofetal Development Study of Vismodegib, a Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor, in Rats. Birth Defects in Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology, 101(2), 135-143.