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Complex role of tumor cell transforming growth factor (TGF)-βs on breast carcinoma progression

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Abstract

Growth inhibition by the TGF-βs has been extensively studied in both normal and transformed mammary epithelial cells. It has been proposed that loss of autocrine TGF-β mediated growth regulation is a critical event in breast tumorigenesis and several lines ofin vitro andin vivo data support this hypothesis. However, a positive association between the expression of TGF-βs by tumor cells and the progression or maintenance of breast cancinoma cells has been observed in many studies inin vivo tumor models. Possible mechanisms for these growth enhancing effects of TGF-β include immunosuppression mediated by tumor TGF-βs, enhanced angiogenesis, increased peritumoral stroma formation, and cell adhesion. The net effect of tumor cell TGF-β on the biology of breast carcinogenesis would depend on the balance between autocrine growth inhibition of mammary epithelial cells and these growth enhancing effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee

    Katri M. Koli & Carlos L. Arteaga

  2. Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee

    Carlos L. Arteaga

  3. Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee

    Carlos L. Arteaga

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  1. Katri M. Koli
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Koli, K.M., Arteaga, C.L. Complex role of tumor cell transforming growth factor (TGF)-βs on breast carcinoma progression. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 1, 373–380 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017393

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