title: TGF-beta in mammary gland development and breast cancer.
abstract: TGF-beta is now recognized as an important factor regulating normal mammary gland development as well as breast cancer. In development, TGF-beta regulates branching morphogenesis and differentiation by acting on both epithelial and stromal cells. TGF-beta also regulates apoptosis and matrix remodeling during involution at the end of the pregnancy cycle. TGF-beta has biphasic effects on tumor progression, acting as a tumor suppressor in early stages of cancer and promoting invasion and metastasis at later stages. Furthermore, TGF-beta may play a role in tumor progression through effects on the microenvironment. The tumor promoting effects of TGF-beta may provide a therapeutic target for late stage breast cancer via TGF-beta antagonists like the soluble receptors recently described. Future experiments will uncover the precise mechanisms of TGF-beta action in development and neoplastic disease providing more opportunities for prevention and treatment of breast disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0005, USA. rserra@cellbio.bhs.uab.edu
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Crowley