Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and brain tumours

Abstract

Since its discovery in the late 1970s considerable research has linked transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) to several human diseases such as fibrosis, auto-immunity and cancer. TGF-β acts initially as a growth inhibitory factor in early stages of tumour development. In contrast, as tumours evolve, they develop mechanisms to evade the growth-regulatory effects of TGF-β, resulting in greater tumour invasiveness, increased metastatic potential and inhibition of surrounding immune responses. However, although extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms that trigger tumour cells to "switch" from TGF-β-inhibited to TGF-β-promoted are still not fully understood. Contradictory studies that dem..