Advances in targeting the transforming growth factor β1 signaling pathway in lung cancer radiotherapy

Lung cancer was demonstrated to be the most lethal type of malignant tumor amongst humans in the global cancer statistics of 2012. As one of the primary treatments, radiotherapy has been reported to induce remission in, and even cure, patients with lung cancer. However, the side effects of radiotherapy may prove lethal in certain patients. In past decades, the transforming growth factor β1 (TGFB1) signaling pathway has been revealed to serve multiple functions in the control of lung cancer progression and the radiotherapy response. In mammals, this signaling pathway is initiated through activation of the TGFB1 receptor complex, which signals via cytoplasmic SMAD proteins or other downstream signaling pathways. Multiple studies have demonstrated that TGFB1 serves important functions in lung cancer radiotherapy. The present study summarized and reviewed recent progress in elucidating the function of the TGFB1 signaling pathway in predicting radiation pneumonitis, as well as current strategies for targeting the TGFB1 signaling pathway in lung cancer radiotherapy, which may provide potential targets for lung cancer therapy.