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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).
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) paradoxically promotes advanced tumor progression. Understanding TGF-β pathway defects reveals therapeutic targets for cancer, including metastasis and immune evasion.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) exhibits dual roles in cancer, initially inhibiting but later promoting tumor progression.
- Dysregulation of TGF-β signaling is implicated in various hallmarks of cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind the paradoxical role of TGF-β in tumor progression.
- To identify how defects in TGF-β pathways contribute to tumorigenesis.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets arising from TGF-β pathway dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews existing literature on TGF-β signaling in cancer.
- Analysis of downstream events triggered by TGF-β pathway defects.
- Identification of key oncogenic pathways influenced by TGF-β.
Main Results:
- Defects in TGF-β pathways initiate a cascade driving uncontrolled proliferation, apoptosis evasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis.
- TGF-β dysregulation converges with multiple oncogenic pathways.
Conclusions:
- Understanding TGF-β dysregulation is crucial for deciphering tumor progression.
- Targeting the convergence points between TGF-β and other pathways offers novel therapeutic strategies for advanced cancers.
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