title: The Smad family and its role in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: One of the major signaling pathways that determine the tumor aggression and patient outcome in pancreatic cancer is the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) pathway. It is inactivated at various levels in pancreatic cancer and plays a dual role in tumor initiation and progression. The Smad family of proteins transduce signals from the TGF-ß superfamily ligands that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and death through activation of receptor serine/threonine kinases. This review discusses the structure, function and regulation of various participating Smad family members, and their individual roles in determining the progression and outcome of pancreatic cancer patients, with a special emphasis on Smad4.
authors.affiliation: Kolling Institute of Medical Research, NSW, 2006, Australia. puneetsingh_bio@y7mail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051905:Smad6 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; C497802:SMAD6 protein, human; C497806:SMAD7 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D051905:Smad6 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta