Activation of hedgehog pathway in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway relates with a variety of tumors-related diseases. To examine whether Hh signaling has a role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), twenty cases of AML patients were chosen, and the transcript levels of Hh and its receptors between untreated group and minimal residual disease (MRD)(-) group in patients with AML were compared. We also compared the transcript levels of Hh and its receptors in patients with AML between MRD(-) and relapse group. We found that relative expression levels of Shh, Smo, and Gli1 mRNA in untreated group and relapse group were significantly higher than those in normal control group and MRD(-) group, while the level of Ptch mRNA did not show significant difference. Our results suggested that there was inappropriate activation of the Hh signaling pathway in AML patients, Hh signaling could be an essential requirement in AML, and inhibition of Hh signaling maybe a new treatment for AML patients.