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Review
Targeting TGF Beta Signaling for Cancer Therapy
Sravisht Iyer, Zhen-Guo Wang, Mojtaba Akhtari, Wenli Zhao, Prem Seth
volume 4 | issue 3
march 2005Pages: 261-266
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Transforming growth factor (TGF)?s are multifunctional polypeptides that regulate several cellular functions, including cell growth and differentiation, extra cellular matrix production, motility and immunosuppression. The growth-inhibiting properties of TGF? have gained much attention into its role as a tumor suppressor. There is, however, now increasing evidence that TGF? switches roles, from tumor suppressor to tumor promoter, as the tumor progresses. Given the integral role of TGF? in the tumor progression, it follows that TGF? signaling offers an attractive target for cancer therapy. Several strategies including the use of antisense oligonucleotides for TGF?, TGF? antibodies, dominant negative TGF? receptor II, and small drug-molecules to inhibit TGF? receptor I kinase have shown great promise in the preclinical studies. These new findings, coupled with progressing clinical trials indicate that inhibition of TGF? signaling may, indeed, be a viable option to cancer therapy. This review summarizes the TGF? signaling, the dual role of TGF? - as a tumor suppressor and tumor promoter, and various strategies targeted against TGF?signaling for cancer therapy. The next few years promise to better our understanding of approaching cancer therapy with an eye to the inhibition of TGF? signaling.
We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link:
Download PDFIf the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.