title: TGF-β signaling in breast cancer cell invasion and bone metastasis.
abstract: The contribution of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling to breast cancer has been studied for more than two decades. In an early phase TGF-β may act as a tumour suppressor, while later, when cells have become resistant to its anti-mitogenic effects, the role of TGF-β switches towards malignant conversion and progression. TGF-β stimulates cell invasion and modifies the microenvironment to the advantage of cancer cells. Studies have shown that TGF-β promotes bone and lung metastasis via different mechanisms. The therapeutic strategies to target the TGF-β pathway in breast cancer are becoming increasingly clear. This review will focus on the role TGF-β in breast cancer invasion and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. y.s.drabsch@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Drabsch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: ten Dijke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta