Present status and upcoming prospects of hedgehog pathway inhibitors in small cell lung cancer therapy

Abstract

Lung cancer is an important etiology of malignant mortality worldwide with global statistics indicating over 1 million deaths annually. Although there have been advances in cytotoxic chemotherapy, the prognosis after treatment still remains poor. Remarkably, recent studies on the molecular level are creating the possibility to hamper lung cancer by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway. Currently, hedgehog pathway inhibitors include IWP-2, cyclopamine and aprotinin. However, Vismodegib is a new upcoming prospect which has shown positive results while undergoing clinical trials. If approved, it may lead to a novel class of anti-cancer therapy for patients seeking treatment for small cell lung cancer. © 2013 Naqvi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.