TGF Controls Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

There have been no major improvements in the overall survival of ovarian cancer patients in recent decades. Even though more accurate surgery and more effective treatments are available, the mortality rate remains high. Given the differences in origin and the heterogeneity of these tumors, research to elucidate the signaling pathways involved is required. The Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) family controls different cellular responses in development and cell homeostasis. Disruption of TGF signaling has been implicated in many cancers, including ovarian cancer. This article considers the involvement of TGF in ovarian cancer progression, and reviews the various mechanisms that enable the TGF signaling pathway to control ovarian cancer cell proliferation. These mechanistic explanations support the therapeutic use of TGF inhibitors in ovarian cancer, which are currently in the early phases of development.