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Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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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Cross-Talk between the TGF-β and Cell Adhesion Signaling Pathways in Cancer

Jiahao Liao1,2, Rentang Chen1,2, Bihua Lin1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Medical Bioactive Molecular Developmental and Translational Research, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China.

International Journal of Medical Sciences
|May 31, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling interacts with cell adhesion molecules to influence cell behavior. Aberrant TGF-β activation promotes cancer invasion and metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is crucial for cell differentiation and migration, interacting with the cell adhesion signaling pathway.
  • TGF-β is secreted in an inactive complex and requires release of mature TGF-β for signaling pathway activation.
  • Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), particularly integrins, play a key role in recognizing and activating latent TGF-β.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the crosstalk between TGF-β and cell adhesion signaling in cancer.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of this interaction.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on TGF-β signaling and cell adhesion in cancer.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms involving integrins, CAMs expression, and regulatory molecules like Smad proteins, transcription factors, and non-coding RNAs.

Main Results:

  • TGF-β regulates cell adhesion by modulating CAMs expression.
  • Integrins are essential for the release and activation of mature TGF-β.
  • Aberrant TGF-β pathway activation, driven by dysregulated molecules, promotes tumor invasion and metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between TGF-β and cell adhesion signaling is a critical determinant of cancer progression.
  • Understanding these molecular mechanisms provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis.
Keywords:
TGF-β signaling pathwaycancercell adhesion signaling pathway

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