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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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Intracellular and extracellular TGF-β signaling in cancer: some recent topics

Kohei Miyazono1, Yoko Katsuno2, Daizo Koinuma2

  • 1Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. miyazono@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Frontiers of Medicine
|July 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) can suppress tumors early on but promotes cancer progression later by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Targeting TGF-β signaling offers potential cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has dual roles in cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor in early stages and a pro-tumorigenic factor in later stages.
  • TGF-β signaling is implicated in diverse cellular processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune function, and extracellular matrix production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on TGF-β-induced EMT and its crosstalk with other signaling pathways.
  • To discuss the role of TGF-β in the progression of lung and pancreatic cancers.
  • To explore the potential of targeting TGF-β signaling for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent findings on TGF-β signaling in cancer.
  • Analysis of TGF-β's role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • Examination of TGF-β's involvement in regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation and function.

Main Results:

  • TGF-β promotes cancer progression through EMT, particularly in lung and pancreatic cancers.
  • TGF-β signaling crosstalks with other pathways, influencing tumor microenvironment.
  • TGF-β is crucial for regulatory T cell (Treg) function, involving complexes like GARP.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting TGF-β signaling pathways presents a promising therapeutic strategy for certain cancers.
  • Understanding TGF-β's complex roles in cancer progression and immune modulation is critical for effective treatment development.
  • Inhibiting TGF-β activity via latent complex regulation is a potential therapeutic approach.
Keywords:
EMTGARPTGF-βimmune functionlatent formlung cancerpancreatic cancer

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