Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.
1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. 913 N. Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
2 Department of Medicine, Geriatric Research, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. 801 N. Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL 62794, USA
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional polypeptide that regulates cell growth, differentiation, and extracellular matrix formation. Studies on genetically engineered animal models have demonstrated that TGF-β-mediated signaling pathway plays a critical role in both normal development and tumorigenesis of the breast. In pathogenesis of breast cancer, the role of TGF-β appears featured with growth-inhibitory effects at early stages of carcinogenesis, but aggressive oncogenesis with transition to more advanced malignant states. The TGF-β signaling pathway is also tissue-context and ligand content-dependent. Therein, therapeutic modulation of TGF-β signaling may be a multifactorial event.