RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Mechanistic basis and clinical relevance of the role of transforming growth factor-β in cancer JF Cancer Biology and Medicine JO Cancer Biol Med FD China Anti-Cancer Association SP 385 OP 393 DO 10.7497/j.issn.2095-3941.2015.0015 VO 12 IS 4 A1 Lin, Run-Long A1 Zhao, Lu-Jun YR 2015 UL http://www.cancerbiomed.org/content/12/4/385.abstract AB Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key factor in cancer development and progression. TGF-β can suppress tumorigenesis by inhibiting cell cycle progression and stimulating apoptosis in early stages of cancer progression. However, TGF-β can modulate cancer-related processes, such as cell invasion, distant metastasis, and microenvironment modification that may be used by cancer cells to their advantage in late stages. Corresponding mechanisms include angiogenesis promotion, anti-tumor immunity suppression, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction. The correlation between TGF-β expression and cancer prognosis has also been extensively investigated. Results suggest that TGF-β pathway can be targeted to treat cancer; as such, the feasibility of this treatment is investigated in clinical trials.