Transforming growth factor-β and breast cancer: Transforming growth factor-β/SMAD signaling defects and cancer

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a tumor suppressor, the function of which is compromised in many types of human cancer, including breast cancer. The tumor suppressive effects of TGF-β are caused by potent inhibition of cell proliferation due to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Such antiproliferative responses are mediated by a signaling system that includes two types of cell surface receptors and intracellular signal transducers, the SMAD proteins. Different molecular mechanisms can lead to loss of antiproliferative TGF-β responses in tumor cells, including mutations in components of the signaling system and inhibition of the SMAD signaling pathway by aberrant activities of various regulatory molecules. Some of these mechanisms will be discussed, with emphasis on their potential involvement in breast tumorigenesis.