Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 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

Prostate cancer cells lose their sensitivity to TGFβI growth inhibition with tumor progression

M S Steiner1, C T Anthony, J Metts

  • 1From the Departments of Urology, Cell Biology, and Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Urologic Oncology
|January 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Advanced prostate cancer develops resistance to transforming growth factor βI (TGFβI) growth inhibition. This study found differentiated tumors are more resistant, with functional TGFβ receptors, suggesting other signaling alterations contribute to TGFβI resistance in prostate cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Prostate cancer progression is linked to altered cellular responses to growth inhibitory signals.
  • Transforming growth factor βI (TGFβI) typically inhibits prostate cancer cell growth, but resistance emerges in advanced stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of TGFβI resistance in advanced prostate cancer.
  • To determine if TGFβ receptor function or other signaling pathways are altered in resistant prostate cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Dunning R3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma model.
  • Assessed TGFβI responsiveness in differentiated and advanced prostate carcinoma cells.
  • Evaluated the presence and functionality of TGFβ type I and II receptors.
  • Investigated potential involvement of TGFα/EGFR and bFGF/FGFR autocrine pathways.

Main Results:

  • Prostate carcinoma cells exhibited reduced responsiveness to TGFβI growth inhibition as tumors became more differentiated.
  • Advanced prostate cancer cells possessed functional TGFβ type I and II receptors, ruling out a receptor defect.
  • Autocrine stimulatory pathways involving TGFα/EGFR and bFGF/FGFR were not implicated in TGFβI resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Acquisition of TGFβI resistance is associated with prostate tumor progression.
  • TGFβ receptor functionality is maintained in advanced prostate cancer, indicating resistance arises from post-receptor signaling defects.
  • Further research is needed to identify other stimulatory pathways or TGFβ postreceptor alterations responsible for TGFβI resistance.

More Related Videos

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion09:18

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion

Published on: November 16, 2011

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts09:43

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Published on: August 1, 2025

Related Concept Videos

TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...