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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
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Transforming growth factor -beta receptor signaling in cancer

Satya Narayan1, Thilakavathy Thangasamy, Ramesh Balusu

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and UF Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. snarayan@ufscc.ufl.edu <snarayan@ufscc.ufl.edu>

Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library
|March 17, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a crucial cytokine regulating cell growth, immune responses, and apoptosis. This review details TGF-beta signaling pathways, regulators, and its dual role in tumor suppression and progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a pleiotropic cytokine with critical roles in numerous biological processes.
  • TGF-beta signaling is initiated by ligand binding to type I and II serine/threonine kinase receptors.
  • Dysregulation of TGF-beta signaling is implicated in various diseases, including cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of TGF-beta ligands and receptors.
  • To discuss the positive and negative regulators of TGF-beta signaling pathways.
  • To elucidate the multifaceted roles of TGF-beta in tumor suppression and progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on TGF-beta.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involving TGF-beta ligands and receptors.
  • Synthesis of information on TGF-beta's involvement in cancer biology.

Main Results:

  • Detailed overview of the TGF-beta superfamily, including ligands and receptor complexes.
  • Explanation of intracellular signaling cascades triggered by TGF-beta.
  • Discussion of both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting functions of TGF-beta.

Conclusions:

  • TGF-beta signaling is a complex network essential for normal physiology.
  • Understanding TGF-beta pathway regulation is vital for therapeutic strategies.
  • TGF-beta's dual role in cancer highlights the need for context-specific therapeutic approaches.

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