| Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is a secreted glycoprotein ligand with an established role in patterning and growth of the developing mammalian prostate. Recent evidence indicates that Shh is important in regulating adult stem cells in many organs, and disregulation of the Shh signaling pathway has been causally linked to many cancers, including prostate cancer.;The focus of my graduate work has been on the stromal compartment, consisting of smooth muscle and fibroblasts, in the normal prostate and in prostate tumors. Tumor stroma has received significant attention in the last few years, as it has become increasingly clear that growth factor and angiogenic signaling from the stroma is crucial for maintaining the epithelial tumors they surround. In some tumors, it has been suggested that the initiating lesions are in the stoma. Therefore, understanding stromal biology in the normal prostate and in cancer will be critical for developing therapies. |
