Abstract

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been linked to foregut development since its initial discovery in Drosophila. The mammalian genome expresses three (3) Hh ligands, with sonic hedgehog (Shh) level of expression is highest in the mucosa of the embryonic and adult foregut. Hedgehog signaling aberrant activation is associated with pathological consequences in a range of human cancer. Hedgehog signaling is of pivotal role in homeostasis, neoplastic transformation, and gastrointestinal cancer development. The ability to track these cell types in tumor micro-environment broadens options for the more efficient screening of subjects predisposed to eventually developing gastric cancer as well as to expand opportunities for prophylactic therapy once atrophic gastritis develops. The Hedgehog-interacting protein (HHIP) gene is an essential homolog for multiple developmental processes. However, the expression and clinical correlation of HHIP in gastric cancer (GC) has not thoroughly been investigated. There is need to explore the expression of HHIP in gastric cancer (GC) and evaluate its clinicopathological and functional correlation.