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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
A delicate balance: TGF-beta and the tumor microenvironment
Daniel G Stover1, Brian Bierie, Harold L Moses
1Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling in cancer is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis. Loss of TGF-beta in the tumor microenvironment can promote cancer by altering stromal-epithelial interactions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a key regulator of epithelial cell behavior in cancer.
- TGF-beta signaling influences interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME).
- Dysregulation of TGF-beta in stromal cells can create a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of TGF-beta signaling in both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
- To understand how TGF-beta pathway alterations impact tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.
- To investigate the mechanisms of TGF-beta regulation within the TME.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TGF-beta signaling pathways in epithelial and stromal cells.
- Investigating ligand activation and downstream effector mechanisms.
- Studying stromal-epithelial interactions in vivo.
Main Results:
- TGF-beta signaling is essential for epithelial cell-autonomous tumor development.
- Loss of TGF-beta signaling in stromal components (fibroblasts, T-cells) promotes an activated TME.
- This activated TME supports and can initiate transformation of adjacent epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- TGF-beta signaling in cancer is complex, involving both cancer cells and the TME.
- Stromal TGF-beta loss significantly impacts tumor progression and metastasis.
- Targeting TGF-beta pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for various carcinomas.
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