Transforming growth factor beta: tumor suppressor or promoter? Are host immune cells the answer?
Therapies targeting transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling using neutralizing antibodies and small molecular inhibitors are in multiple clinical trails. However, TGFbeta is known to work as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter, and current knowledge does not provide sufficient information on what factors mediate this switch in function and when this switch occurs. Recent advances in multiple disciplines suggest that immune cells from the tumor host may provide the answer.
Yang
Li
L
Department of Cancer Biology, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenessee 37232, USA. li.yang@vanderbilt.edu
Moses
Harold L
HL
D000818:Animals; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000502:physiology; D002273:Carcinogens; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000502:physiology; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D002273:Carcinogens; C503133:Gr-1 protein, mouse; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins