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Natural products and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling in cancer development and progression

Chung Lee1, Qiang Zhang, James Kozlowski

  • 1Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. c-lee7@northwestern.edu

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|April 20, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Herbal medicines can affect cancer by altering TGF-β signaling. Some may prevent cancer by inducing TGF-β, but harm advanced cancers by promoting growth and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling plays a dual role in cancer, inhibiting early-stage cells but promoting advanced tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Herbal medicines and dietary components can influence TGF-β production and signaling pathways.
  • Gene-specific DNA methylation is closely linked to TGF-β signaling in cancer, and dietary factors can alter methylation profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of herbal products on cancer development and progression, focusing on their impact on Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling.
  • To analyze how herbal medicines that modulate TGF-β production may be beneficial for cancer prevention but potentially harmful in advanced stages.
  • To discuss the influence of dietary components on DNA methylation and its interplay with TGF-β signaling in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating herbal medicine actions on cancer.
  • Analysis of the dual role of TGF-β signaling in benign, early-stage, and advanced cancer.
  • Examination of the relationship between dietary components, DNA methylation, and TGF-β signaling.

Main Results:

  • Herbal products can be categorized based on their effect on TGF-β: those inducing TGF-β (beneficial for prevention, potentially harmful for advanced cancer), those inhibiting TGF-β (beneficial for advanced cancer), and those with no impact.
  • Inducing TGF-β is beneficial for benign and early-stage cells due to its growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects.
  • Inhibiting TGF-β signaling can reduce tumor promotion and metastasis in advanced malignancies.

Conclusions:

  • Herbal medicines targeting TGF-β signaling require careful consideration based on cancer stage.
  • Products inducing TGF-β may aid cancer prevention but pose risks for patients with advanced cancer.
  • Further research into herbal products and their specific mechanisms on TGF-β and DNA methylation is crucial for safe and effective use in cancer therapy.

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