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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Dual role of transforming growth factor beta in mammary tumorigenesis and metastatic progression

Rebecca S Muraoka-Cook1, Nancy Dumont, Carlos L Arteaga

  • 1Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6307, USA.

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|February 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) has a dual role in cancer. Blocking TGFbeta signaling shows promise for treating human mammary tumors, with several therapies in development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) exhibits dual roles as a tumor suppressor and promoter.
  • Loss of TGFbeta signaling facilitates cancer transformation, while its inhibition can impede metastatic processes.
  • Excess TGFbeta production by tumors can drive progression via paracrine effects on angiogenesis, stroma, and immune evasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic rationale for blocking autocrine/paracrine TGFbeta signaling in human mammary tumors.
  • To review current early clinical development approaches targeting TGFbeta signaling.
  • To identify key questions regarding the efficacy, optimal strategies, and clinical implementation of anti-TGFbeta therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TGFbeta's role in cancer progression and metastasis.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies including ligand antibodies, fusion proteins, and small-molecule kinase inhibitors.
  • Identification of critical areas for future research in anti-TGFbeta treatment.

Main Results:

  • TGFbeta signaling blockade inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, motility, invasiveness, survival, and metastasis in preclinical models.
  • Paracrine TGFbeta actions contribute to tumor progression through neoangiogenesis, stromal remodeling, and immune suppression.
  • Early clinical trials are investigating various anti-TGFbeta agents.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting TGFbeta signaling is a rational therapeutic strategy for human mammary tumors.
  • Further research is needed to optimize anti-TGFbeta treatment approaches, identify predictive biomarkers, and assess toxicities.
  • Combination therapies and understanding molecular profiles are crucial for successful clinical application.

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