title: Tumor-promoting functions of transforming growth factor-β in progression of cancer.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) elicits both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting functions during cancer progression. Here, we describe the tumor-promoting functions of TGF-β and how these functions play a role in cancer progression. Normal epithelial cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the action of TGF-β, while treatment with TGF-β and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 results in transdifferentiation into activated fibroblastic cells that are highly migratory, thereby facilitating cancer invasion and metastasis. TGF-β also induces EMT in tumor cells, which can be regulated by oncogenic and anti-oncogenic signals. In addition to EMT promotion, invasion and metastasis of cancer are facilitated by TGF-β through other mechanisms, such as regulation of cell survival, angiogenesis, and vascular integrity, and interaction with the tumor microenvironment. TGF-β also plays a critical role in regulating the cancer-initiating properties of certain types of cells, including glioma-initiating cells. These findings thus may be useful for establishing treatment strategies for advanced cancer by inhibiting TGF-β signaling.
authors: Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. miyazono@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Miyazono
authors: Shogo
authors: S
authors: Ehata
authors: Daizo
authors: D
authors: Koinuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2