Dosage-Dependent Regulation of Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Angiogenesis by Hedgehog Signaling

Pancreatic cancer, a hypovascular and highly desmoplastic cancer, is characterized by tumor expression of Hedgehog (HH) ligands that signal to fibroblasts in the surrounding stroma that in turn promote tumor survival and growth. However, the mechanisms and consequences of stromal HH pathway activation are not well understood. Here, we show that the HH coreceptors GAS1, BOC, and CDON are expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Deletion of two coreceptors (Gas1 and Boc) in fibroblasts reduces HH responsiveness. Strikingly, these fibroblasts promote greater tumor growth in vivo that correlates with increased tumor-associated vascularity. In contrast, deletion of all three coreceptors (Gas1, Boc, and Cdon) results in the near complete abrogation of HH signaling and a corresponding failure to promote tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Collectively, these data identify a role for HH dosage in pancreatic cancer promotion and may explain the clinical failure of HH pathway blockade as a therapeutic approach in pancreatic cancer. [Display omitted] •HH coreceptors are expressed in adult pancreas and upregulated in pancreatic cancer•Stromal deletion of Gas1 and Boc reduces HH signaling but promotes tumorigenesis•Complete blockade of HH signaling is required to inhibit pancreatic tumor growth•Reduced HH signaling promotes tumor growth through increased angiogenesis Mathew et al. find that the Hedgehog (HH) coreceptors GAS1, BOC, and CDON are expressed in pancreatic cancer. Ablation of two of these coreceptors reduces HH responsiveness but unexpectedly increases pancreatic tumor growth through the induction of an angiogenic response. This work uncovers a complex and previously unappreciated dose-dependent role for HH signaling in pancreatic cancer with potential clinical implications.