title: Transforming growth factor-beta in cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a complex role during carcinogenesis. It may either act as a tumor suppressor through its broad antiproliferative potential or as a tumor promoter either via direct effects on tumor cell aggressiveness or indirectly by modulating stromal responses, angiogenesis and immune surveillance. Increased production of TGF-beta by cancer cells is often associated with tumor grade. Melanoma cells largely escape cell cycle arrest normally induced by TGF-beta in normal melanocytes, yet produce active TGF-beta and are capable of efficient transcriptional responses to the growth factor. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the role played by TGF-beta in melanoma progression and hypothesize about the appropriateness of targeting TGF-beta signaling for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U697, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Javelaud
authors.forename: Vasileia-Ismini
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Alexaki
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauviel
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases