Positive and Negative Effects of TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Carcinogenesis

Conclusion:TGF-β signaling pathways have a multifaceted and fundamental role in human development. It acts as a double-edged sword, both tumor suppressor, and tumor promoter. The tumor suppressor role is commonly designated as antiproliferative and apoptotic effects. TGF-β stops cell cycle at the G1 phase and promotes apoptosis. However, in advance stage of the tumor, it lost suppressor activities and begin tumor promotor due to the mutation in some component of the TGF-β pathway. Thus, The TGF-β can no longer control the cell cycle and proliferate the cancer cell. The increased production of TGF-β induces tumor invasion, motility, metastasis, immunosuppression epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. To study the exact molecular mechanism of TGF-β in the cancer cell and determine the oncogenic activities can provide successful and new therapeutic approach to reestablish the ordinary function of TGF-β.
Source: Current Signal Transduction Therapy - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research