title: Role of transforming growth factor Beta in human cancer.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a ubiquitous and essential regulator of cellular and physiologic processes including proliferation, differentiation, migration, cell survival, angiogenesis, and immunosurveillance. Alterations in the TGF-beta signaling pathway, including mutation or deletion of members of the signaling pathway and resistance to TGF-beta-mediated inhibition of proliferation are frequently observed in human cancers. Although these alterations define a tumor suppressor role for the TGF-beta pathway in human cancer, TGF-beta also mediates tumor-promoting effects, either through differential effects on tumor and stromal cells or through a fundamental alteration in the TGF-beta responsiveness of the tumor cells themselves. TGF-beta and members of the TGF-beta signaling pathway are being evaluated as prognostic or predictive markers for cancer patients. Ongoing advances in understanding the TGF-beta signaling pathway will enable targeting of this pathway for the chemoprevention and treatment of human cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, 221 BMSRB Research Drive, Box 2631 DUMC, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Gerard C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Blobe
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta