Transforming growth factor-: A therapeutic target for cancer

Transforming growth factor- (TGF-) regulates cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis, cell motility, extracellular matrix production, angiogenesis, and cellular immunity. It has a paradoxical role in cancer. In the early stages it inhibits cellular transformation and prevents cancer progression. In later stages TGF- plays a key role in promoting tumor progression through mainly 3 mechanisms: facilitating epithelial to mesenchymal transition, stimulating angiogenesis and inducing immunosuppression. As a result of its opposing tumor promoting and tumor suppressive abilities, TGF- and its pathway has represented potential opportunities for drug development and several therapies targeting the TGF- pathway have been identified. This review focuses on identifying the mechanisms through which TGF- is involved in tumorigenesis and current therapeutics that are under development.