Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
TGF-β: duality of function between tumor prevention and carcinogenesis
Daniel R Principe1, Jennifer A Doll, Jessica Bauer
1Affiliations of authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (DRP, JB, BJ) and Division of Hematology/Oncology (HGM), Department of Surgery, Division of GI Surgical Oncology (DRP, PJG), and Department of Urology (CL), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Department of Biomedical Engineering. McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (DRP); Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI (JAD); UMR INSERM U1052, CNRS 5286, Université Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France (LB); Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (BP); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA (CL).
Abstract:
Several mechanisms underlying tumor progression have remained elusive, particularly in relation to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Although TGF-β initially inhibits epithelial growth, it appears to promote the progression of advanced tumors. Defects in normal TGF-β pathways partially explain this paradox, which can lead to a cascade of downstream events that drive multiple oncogenic pathways, manifesting as several key features of tumorigenesis (uncontrolled proliferation, loss of apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, sustained angiogenesis, evasion of immune surveillance, and metastasis). Understanding the mechanisms of TGF-β dysregulation will likely reveal novel points of convergence between TGF-β and other pathways that can be specifically targeted for therapy.
![Chemical-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis Model Using Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene and 12-O-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate DMBA-TPA](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60445.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Related Concept Videos
01:16TGF - β Signaling Pathway
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
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...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...