TGF-β Signaling in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Progress in Basic and Clinical Research

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily proteins have many important biological functions, including regulation of tissue differentiation, cell proliferation, and migration in both normal and cancer cells. Many studies have reported that TGF-beta signaling is associated with disease progression and therapeutic resistance in several cancers. Similarly, TGF-beta-induced protein (TGFBI)-a downstream component of the TGF-beta signaling pathway-has been shown to promote and/or inhibit cancer. Here, we review the state of basic and clinical research on the roles of TGF-beta and TGFBI in gastrointestinal cancers.