Targeting TGF-? signaling in cancer.

ABSTRACT: The transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signaling pathway has a pivotal role in tumor suppression and yet, paradoxically, in tumor promotion. Functional context dependent insights into the TGF-? pathway are crucial in developing TGF-?-based therapeutics for cancer.This review discusses the molecular mechanism of the TGF-? pathway and describes the different ways of tumor suppression by TGF-?. It is then explained how tumors can evade these effects and how TGF-? contributes to further growing and spreading of some of the tumors. In the last part of the review, the data on targeting TGF-? pathway for cancer treatment is assessed. This review focuses on anti-TGF-? based treatment and other options targeting activated pathways in tumors where the TGF-? tumor suppressor pathway is lost. Pre-clinical as well up to date results of the most recent clinical trials are given.Targeting the TGF-? 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-? and its other physiological roles, and delineating the tumor suppressive versus the tumor promoting roles of TGF-? in each specific tumor. Future studies are needed in order to find safer and more effective TGF-?-based drugs.

SUBMITTER: Katz LH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3745214 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature