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Updated: Jul 18, 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

PDGF essentially links TGF-beta signaling to nuclear beta-catenin accumulation in hepatocellular carcinoma

A N M Fischer1, E Fuchs, M Mikula

  • 1Department of Medicine I, Division: Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Oncogene
|November 30, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) promotes cancer progression by inducing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling, activating beta-catenin in hepatocytes. This process enhances malignant cell survival and stem cell-like properties, driving tumor metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pathogenesis
  • Cancer Stem Cell Biology
  • Molecular Oncology

Background:

  • Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for cancer metastasis.
  • Ras-ERK and TGF-β signaling pathways interplay in driving EMT and malignancy.
  • p19(ARF) null hepatocytes undergo EMT with increased metastatic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in tumor formation and metastasis.
  • To investigate the downstream signaling of PDGF, including beta-catenin.
  • To understand the impact of nuclear beta-catenin on hepatocyte proliferation and survival.

Main Methods:

  • Loss-of-function analyses to assess PDGF's role.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways including PI3K and beta-catenin.
  • Studies using hepatocytes with altered beta-catenin or Axin expression.

Main Results:

  • PDGF signaling promotes adhesion, migration, and proliferation during tumor formation.
  • PDGF activates phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and leads to nuclear beta-catenin accumulation.
  • Active beta-catenin correlated with growth arrest, p16(INK4A) expression, and protection against anoikis.

Conclusions:

  • TGF-β promotes tumor progression via PDGF signaling and beta-catenin activation.
  • Activated beta-catenin confers cancer stem cell-like properties to neoplastic hepatocytes.
  • This pathway is critical for carcinoma cell dissemination and survival.

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