Biomol Ther.
2013 Sep;21(5):323-331.
Targeting the Transforming Growth Factor-beta Signaling in Cancer Therapy
- Affiliations
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- 1College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea. yysheen@ewha.ac.kr
- 2Laboratory of Tumor Suppressor, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 406-840, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
- TGF-beta pathway is being extensively evaluated as a potential therapeutic target. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway has the dual role in both tumor suppression and tumor promotion. To design cancer therapeutics successfully, it is important to understand TGF-beta related functional contexts. This review discusses the molecular mechanism of the TGF-beta pathway and describes the different ways of tumor suppression and promotion by TGF-beta. In the last part of the review, the data on targeting TGF-beta pathway for cancer treatment is assessed. The TGF-beta inhibitors in pre-clinical studies, and Phase I and II clinical trials are updated.