title: Targeting TGF-β signaling in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway has a pivotal role in tumor suppression and yet, paradoxically, in tumor promotion. Functional context dependent insights into the TGF-β pathway are crucial in developing TGF-β-based therapeutics for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review discusses the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β pathway and describes the different ways of tumor suppression by TGF-β. It is then explained how tumors can evade these effects and how TGF-β contributes to further growing and spreading of some of the tumors. In the last part of the review, the data on targeting TGF-β pathway for cancer treatment is assessed. This review focuses on anti-TGF-β based treatment and other options targeting activated pathways in tumors where the TGF-β tumor suppressor pathway is lost. Pre-clinical as well up to date results of the most recent clinical trials are given.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting the TGF-β pathway can be a promising direction in cancer treatment. However, several challenges still exist, the most important are differentiating between the carcinogenic effects of TGF-β and its other physiological roles, and delineating the tumor suppressive versus the tumor promoting roles of TGF-β in each specific tumor. Future studies are needed in order to find safer and more effective TGF-β-based drugs.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Lior H
authors: LH
authors: Katz
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Jiun-Sheng
authors: JS
authors: Chen
authors: Nina M
authors: NM
authors: Muñoz
authors: Avijit
authors: A
authors: Majumdar
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Lopa
authors: L
authors: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
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