title: Transforming growth factor-beta signaling in breast cancer.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional polypeptide that regulates cell growth, differentiation, and extracellular matrix formation. Studies on genetically engineered animal models have demonstrated that TGF-beta-mediated signaling pathway plays a critical role in both normal development and tumorigenesis of the breast. In pathogenesis of breast cancer, the role of TGF-beta appears featured with growth-inhibitory effects at early stages of carcinogenesis, but aggressive oncogenesis with transition to more advanced malignant states. The TGF-beta signaling pathway is also tissue-context and ligand content-dependent. Therein, therapeutic modulation of TGF-beta signaling may be a multifactorial event.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA.
authors.forename: Ching-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Reyhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westbrook
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Deliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta