Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
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
13.9K
TGFβ Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment
Cassandra Ringuette Goulet1,2, Frédéric Pouliot3,4,5
1Oncology Division, CHU de Québec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|October 30, 2020
Summary
Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is crucial for tissue homeostasis but plays a dual role in cancer. Initially a tumor suppressor, TGFβ later promotes tumor growth and metastasis by creating a supportive microenvironment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a key regulator of mammalian tissue homeostasis.
- TGFβ normally restrains cell growth and promotes apoptosis.
- Its role in carcinogenesis is complex and context-dependent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the TGFβ family's biology.
- To discuss the intricate roles of TGFβ signaling in cancer development.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of TGFβ inhibition in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of TGFβ signaling pathways.
- Analysis of TGFβ's dual role in early and late-stage carcinogenesis.
- Examination of TGFβ's influence on the tumor microenvironment.
Main Results:
- TGFβ acts as a tumor suppressor in early cancer stages.
- In later stages, cancer cells evade TGFβ growth control, leading to tumor promotion.
- Overproduced TGFβ creates a pro-tumorigenic, fibrotic, and immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- TGFβ signaling has a complex, context-dependent role in cancer.
- Understanding TGFβ's dual function is vital for cancer therapy development.
- Targeting TGFβ signaling offers a promising therapeutic strategy for various cancers.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
7.4K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.4K
01:16TGF - β Signaling Pathway
9.7K
The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors...
9.7K
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
3.1K
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.1K
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
3.3K
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
3.3K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
7.5K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.5K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
4.3K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.3K