Secreted SHH activated Hedgehog signaling in numerous cells of various types in the tissues.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate a vital role of the activated Hedgehog signaling pathway in promoting gastric initiation and progression.

In animal xenograft models of pancreatic cancer, activated Hedgehog signaling was also observed compared with the vehicle controls, but was reduced by SSBE administration.

Exogenous recombinant protein Shh was used to activate Hedgehog signaling, thereby resulting in the abolishment of the SSBE-mediated inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell growth.