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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
06:54
Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
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Activation of TGF-β1 Pathway by SCUBE3 Regulates TWIST1 Expression and Promotes Breast Cancer Progression
Xuhui Yang1, Jingqiu Hu2, Cancan Shi3
1Department of General Surgery, Liyuan Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals
|November 20, 2019
Summary
Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain containing protein 3 (SCUBE3) promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis by activating the TGF-β1 pathway. Inhibiting SCUBE3 reduces tumor development and spread, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain containing protein 3 (SCUBE3) is implicated in various cancers.
- The specific role of SCUBE3 in breast cancer progression remains largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biological function and mechanism of SCUBE3 in breast cancer.
- To determine the association between SCUBE3, TGF-β signaling, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Main Methods:
- Western blotting and qRT-PCR to assess protein and gene expression.
- Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration assays (MTT, wound healing, colony formation, Transwell).
- In vivo tumor xenograft experiments in mice.
Main Results:
- SCUBE3 expression is significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues and cells.
- SCUBE3 knockdown inhibits, while overexpression promotes, breast cancer cell growth, invasion, and migration.
- SCUBE3 positively regulates TGF-β1 and TWIST1 expression, crucial for EMT.
Conclusions:
- SCUBE3 promotes breast cancer progression by enhancing the TGF-β1/TWIST1 axis.
- SCUBE3 is a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting breast cancer growth and metastasis.
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