Cyclic peptide blocks first step in cancer-related signaling pathway

The hedgehog signaling pathway, which plays key roles during embryonic development, is involved in growth and proliferation of multiple kinds of cancer. Blocking unwanted activation of this signaling pathway is an important anticancer target. Although several inhibitors of downstream members of the pathway have been identified, so far the only known inhibitor of the first step in the pathway is a modestly potent molecule called robotnikinin. Now, a . . .