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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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The role of the extracellular matrix protein TGFBI in cancer

Armando Corona1, Gerard C Blobe2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical center, USA.

Cellular Signalling
|May 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) protein impacts cell adhesion and bone formation. While initially viewed as a tumor suppressor, TGFBI promotes advanced cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) is an extracellular protein involved in cell adhesion and bone formation.
  • Mutations in TGFBI cause hereditary corneal dystrophies due to protein accumulation.
  • TGFBI's role in cancer has shifted from tumor suppressor to promoter of tumor progression in established cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dual role of TGFBI in biological functions and human diseases.
  • To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of TGFBI expression and function.
  • To assess the potential of TGFBI as a therapeutic target and biomarker in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing literature on TGFBI's biological roles and disease associations.
  • Review of studies on TGFBI's function in cancer, including its tumor suppressor and promoter activities.
  • Examination of epigenetic and microRNA-mediated regulation of TGFBI.

Main Results:

  • TGFBI is implicated in embryonic development, bone formation, and corneal diseases.
  • In cancer, TGFBI acts as a tumor suppressor early on but promotes progression in advanced tumors.
  • Elevated TGFBI levels correlate with poorer clinical outcomes and chemotherapy resistance.

Conclusions:

  • TGFBI plays a complex, context-dependent role in human health and disease.
  • Targeting TGFBI offers potential clinical utility for advanced cancers.
  • TGFBI levels can serve as a biomarker for chemotherapy resistance and tumor progression.
Keywords:
Chemo sensitizingEpigenetic regulationIntegrinsMetastasisTransforming growth factor betaTumor promotingTumor suppressing

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