Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) Signaling in Cancer-A Betrayal Within

A ubiquitously expressed cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a significant role in various ongoing cellular mechanisms. The gain or loss-of-function of TGF-beta and its downstream mediators could lead to a plethora of diseases includes tumorigenesis. Specifically, at the early onset of malignancy TGF-beta act as tumour suppressor and plays a key role in clearing malignant cells by reducing the cellular proliferation and differentiation thus triggers the process of apoptosis. Subsequently, TGF-beta at an advanced stage of malignancy promotes tumorigenesis by augmenting cellular transformation, epithelial-mesenchymal-transition invasion, and metastasis. Besides playing the dual roles, depending upon the stage of malignancy, TGF-beta also regulates cell fate through immune and stroma components. This oscillatory role of TGF-beta to fight against cancer or act as a traitor to collaborate and crosstalk with other tumorigenic signaling pathways and its betrayal within the cell depends upon the cellular context. Therefore, the current review highlights and understands the dual role of TGF-beta under different cellular conditions and its crosstalk with other signaling pathways in modulating cell fate.

Automated summary

The ubiquitously expressed cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a significant role in cellular mechanisms. It functions as a tumor suppressor at the early onset of malignancy but promotes tumorigenesis at an advanced stage. Moreover, TGF-beta regulates cell fate through immune and stroma components.