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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

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TGF-beta signaling and its targeted therapy in gastrointestinal cancers

Jovana Ranko Gotovac1,2, Kenji Mark Fujihara1,2, Wayne Allen Phillips1,2,3

  • 1Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Discovery Medicine
|November 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling is crucial for gastrointestinal health but its dysregulation drives cancer. Tumor cells paradoxically use TGFβ to promote invasion and metastasis, challenging targeted therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway is vital for gastrointestinal homeostasis.
  • Deregulation of TGFβ signaling is implicated in juvenile polyposis syndrome and gastrointestinal cancers.
  • Tumor cells frequently inactivate TGFβ signaling to evade its tumor-suppressive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review alterations in TGFβ signaling in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis.
  • To discuss the dual role of TGFβ in cancer progression.
  • To explore future therapeutic strategies targeting TGFβ in gastrointestinal cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of TGFβ signaling in gastrointestinal cancers.
  • Analysis of TGFβ's role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.
  • Discussion of preclinical approaches inhibiting TGFβ-mediated pro-tumorigenic effects.

Main Results:

  • TGFβ acts as both a tumor suppressor and promoter in gastrointestinal malignancies.
  • Tumor cells exploit TGFβ for epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immune evasion.
  • Inhibition of TGFβ-induced microenvironments is a current therapeutic strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding TGFβ's dichotomous role is key to developing targeted therapies.
  • Targeting contextual TGFβ tumor-promoting effects offers future treatment perspectives.
  • Further research is needed for efficacious molecular targeted treatments in gastrointestinal cancers.

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