2. Academic Validation
  3. Itraconazole, a commonly used antifungal that inhibits Hedgehog pathway activity and cancer growth

Itraconazole, a commonly used antifungal that inhibits Hedgehog pathway activity and cancer growth

  • Cancer Cell. 2010 Apr 13;17(4):388-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.02.027.
James Kim 1,  Jean Y Tang,  Ruoyu Gong,  Jynho Kim,  John J Lee,  Karl V Clemons,  Curtis R Chong,  Kris S Chang,  Mark Fereshteh,  Dale Gardner,  Tannishtha Reya,  Jun O Liu,  Ervin H Epstein,  David A Stevens,  Philip A Beachy
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
PMID: 20385363 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.02.027
Abstract

In a screen of drugs previously tested in humans we identified itraconazole, a systemic Antifungal, as a potent antagonist of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway that acts by a mechanism distinct from its inhibitory effect on Fungal sterol biosynthesis. Systemically administered itraconazole, like other Hh pathway antagonists, can suppress Hh pathway activity and the growth of medulloblastoma in a mouse allograft model and does so at serum levels comparable to those in patients undergoing Antifungal therapy. Mechanistically, itraconazole appears to act on the essential Hh pathway component Smoothened (Smo) by a mechanism distinct from that of cyclopamine and other known Smo antagonists, and prevents the ciliary accumulation of Smo normally caused by Hh stimulation.

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