Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 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

Role of TGF-β and the tumor microenvironment during mammary tumorigenesis

Molly A Taylor1, Yong-Hun Lee, William P Schiemann

  • 1Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of General Medical Sciences-Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

Gene Expression
|January 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) normally suppresses mammary tumors. However, tumor microenvironments can alter TGF-beta to promote cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine with dual roles in mammary tumorigenesis.
  • Initially, TGF-beta inhibits tumor formation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells (MECs).
  • Genetic and epigenetic changes during tumor development can inactivate TGF-beta's tumor-suppressive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical role of the tumor microenvironment in the "TGF-beta paradox."
  • To elucidate how tumor microenvironments regulate the oncogenic activities of TGF-beta.
  • To understand TGF-beta's stimulation of metastatic progression in mammary tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on TGF-beta function in mammary tumors.
  • Analysis of the interplay between TGF-beta and the tumor microenvironment.
  • Investigation of molecular mechanisms driving the TGF-beta paradox.

Main Results:

  • TGF-beta's function shifts from tumor suppression to tumor promotion during mammary tumorigenesis.
  • This conversion is influenced by alterations within the tumor and its microenvironment.
  • The tumor microenvironment is essential for TGF-beta's oncogenic activities, including invasion and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in manifesting the "TGF-beta paradox."
  • Understanding these microenvironmental interactions is key to targeting TGF-beta in breast cancer therapy.
  • Mammary tumor microenvironments are critical regulators of TGF-beta-mediated oncogenic progression.

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

Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer07:45

Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer

Published on: May 18, 2020

Related Concept Videos

The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
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...
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...
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...