Transforming Growth Factor β

Abstract

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic target in several human malignancies. While TGFβ has well-documented antiproliferative properties with respect to many benign and well-differentiated epithelial cells, TGFβ is also a potent modifier of the tumor microenvironment that can serve to promote tumor development. Though clinical strategies targeting the TGFβ pathway show promise, this approach in cancer epithelial cells harboring intact tumor-suppressive TGFβ signals may exacerbate cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, it is essential to dissect the many contributions of TGFβ to cancer development prior to utilizing TGFβ inhibitors in the clinic.