TGF-β in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Issue title: Hormone Signaling Transduction and Breast Cancer

Guest editors: Charles Clevenger

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Serra, Rosa | Crowley, Michael R.

Affiliations: Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0005, USA. Tel.: +1 205 934 0842; E-mail: rserra@cellbio.bhs.uab.edu | University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA

Abstract: TGF-β is now recognized as an important factor regulating normal mammary gland development as well as breast cancer. In development, TGF-β regulates branching morphogenesis and differentiation by acting on both epithelial and stromal cells. TGF-β also regulates apoptosis and matrix remodeling during involution at the end of the pregnancy cycle. TGF-β has biphasic effects on tumor progression, acting as a tumor suppressor in early stages of cancer and promoting invasion and metastasis at later stages. Furthermore, TGF-β may play a role in tumor progression through effects on the microenvironment. The tumor promoting effects of TGF-β may provide a therapeutic target for late stage breast cancer via TGF-βantagonists like the soluble receptors recently described. Future experiments will uncover the precise mechanisms of TGF-β action in development and neoplastic disease providing more opportunities for prevention and treatment of breast disease.

DOI: 10.3233/BD-2003-18107

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 61-73, 2003