Transforming growth factor beta signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: as a victim or culprit?

ABSTRACT

The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signalling pathway control various cellular function and play a pivotal role in tumour suppression. In contrary, overexpression of TGFβ is linked to promote the cancer development. TGFβ facilitate cell-growth and cell-differentiation process which support tumour propagation. In case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), TGFβ signalling pathway is the master regulator of HCCs pathogenesis and functionally involved in the regulation of HCCs phenotype via modulating the downstream signalling pathways. In this article, we have highlighted the contradictory behaviour of TGFβ in hepatocellular carcinoma. Observations suggest that the TGFβ signalling pathway is positively correlated to the expression of genes linked with various hepatic pathological conditions, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, inflammation and cancer. TGFβ pathway play dual role as pro and anti-tumoural activities in cancer cells depending on their context.