TGFβ signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling plays a paradoxical effect in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), in which its tumor-inhibitory role at early stages turns into a tumor-promoting role at later stages. The underlying mechanism remains far from clear. Here we provide strong evidence that the activation of TGFβ receptor signaling in PDAC cells increased SMAD3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation to inhibit cell growth. Meanwhile, it also activated SMAD7 to induce nuclear translocation and retention of β-catenin, which not only attenuated the inhibition of cell growth by nuclear SMAD3 but also activated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) to promote vascularization. Our data thus support a model involving crosstalk of the TGFβ and Wnt signaling pathways, for regulating the complicated effect of TGFβ signaling on the tumorigenesis of PDAC.