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Start of funding 01.01.2008
Interference of Hedgehog signaling as a hopeful new strategy for skin tumor treatment
PD Dr. Roland Kappler
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Prof. Dr. Colin Jamora
University of California, San Diego
Division of Biological Sciences
Hedgehog signaling plays a fundamental role in embryonic development and determines cell fate in a variety of tissues, including skin. However, when this pathway is mutated or otherwise deregulated, constitutive activation leads to tumor development in the respective tissues. This collaboration aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis in the skin of a Hedgehog-activated mouse model and to validate novel Hedgehog inhibiting compounds to treat the respective cancerous lesions. Studying the role and function of Hedgehog signaling in normal and neoplastic skin will provide the basis for developing targeted therapies of Hedgehog-associated-tumors in the future.
Final report:
During the BaCaTeC-funded project "Interference of Hedgehog signaling as a hopeful new strategy for skin tumor treatment" we generated and characterized a model system which enables the evaluation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway that is pathologically activated in tumors of the skin. After having cloned appropriate genetic constructs and introduced them into cells of the skin in Germany we have extensively analyzed the model system during two stays in California (spring 2008 and fall 2009) by making use of special microscopic procedures. The promising results of the cooperation with our American partner allowed us to expand the project, which is still ongoing and based on the use of the model system to test new drugs that target hedgehog signaling in cancers for therapeutic purposes. Besides enabling the exchange of theoretical and methodological knowledge both visits led to the transfer of an important microscopic technology to our institution.