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Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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TGF-β in Cancer: Metabolic Driver of the Tolerogenic Crosstalk in the Tumor Microenvironment

Roberta Angioni1,2, Ricardo Sánchez-Rodríguez1,2, Antonella Viola1,2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.

Cancers
|January 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Transforming tumor immunosuppression is key for cancer immunotherapy. This review details how transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) drives immune evasion and orchestrates metabolic reprogramming within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Tumor immunosuppression remains a significant hurdle in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a key cytokine promoting immune evasion in various cancers.
  • TGF-β establishes a tolerogenic tumor microenvironment (TME), fostering immunosuppressive cells and stromal activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To scrutinize TGF-β-mediated crosstalk between immune and stromal cells within the TME.
  • To highlight TGF-β's role as a metabolic regulator within the TME.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of TGF-β's impact on tumor immunology and metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on TGF-β in cancer immunology.
  • Analysis of TGF-β's effects on immune cell populations and stromal cells in the TME.
  • Examination of TGF-β's influence on metabolic pathways within the TME.

Main Results:

  • TGF-β promotes the expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory cells.
  • TGF-β activates resident stromal cells and enhances tumor angiogenesis.
  • TGF-β acts as a critical metabolic regulator, orchestrating metabolic pathways in the TME.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding TGF-β's multifaceted roles is crucial for developing effective cancer immunotherapies.
  • Targeting TGF-β signaling may overcome tumor-induced immunosuppression and metabolic reprogramming.
  • Further research into TGF-β's metabolic functions can unveil novel therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
TGF-βimmune-metabolismtumor microenvironment

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