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Updated: May 12, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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Effects of TGF-β signaling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells

Anna-Karin Boström1, David Lindgren, Martin E Johansson

  • 1Center for Molecular Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|April 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) inhibition reduces kidney cancer invasion. This pathway overlaps with hypoxia-inducible factors, suggesting a link between VHL gene function and TGF-β activity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer, often linked to von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene loss.
  • Metastatic ccRCC has a poor prognosis, with current therapies being insufficient.
  • Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a complex role in tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of TGF-β signaling in ccRCC progression.
  • To investigate the effects of modulating TGF-β pathway activity in ccRCC cells.
  • To identify the relationship between TGF-β and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathways in ccRCC.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated TGF-β pathway modulation effects on ccRCC cell invasion.
  • Performed expression profiling to identify TGF-β-induced gene signatures.
  • Conducted functional experiments to link TGF-β, HIF, and VHL pathways.

Main Results:

  • TGF-β pathway inhibition was shown to significantly attenuate the invasive capacity of ccRCC cells.
  • Expression profiling revealed substantial overlap between TGF-β-responsive genes and HIF-regulated genes.
  • Functional experiments confirmed that TGF-β pathway activity decreases with the reintroduction of functional VHL.

Conclusions:

  • TGF-β signaling is a potential therapeutic target for reducing ccRCC cell invasion.
  • A significant crosstalk exists between the TGF-β and hypoxia pathways in ccRCC.
  • Restoration of VHL function impacts TGF-β pathway activity, highlighting a VHL-TGF-β axis in ccRCC.

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