Mechanism of transforming growth factorβin patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Transforming growth factor β( TGF-β) plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation , differentiation and apoptosis , and also in the carcinogenesis .Unlike its tumor suppressor function in normal tissue , continuous activation of TGF-βsignaling pathway in inflammatory microenvironment and cancer tissue promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcino-ma ( HCC) .Loss of Smad4 and epithelial to mesenchymal tran-sition ( EMT ) may be the potential mechanisms how TGF-βtransforms from a tumor suppressor to a tumor promoter .Further studies on regulatory mechanism of TGF-βsignaling pathway are of great significance , which could provide new evidence for pre-venting and treating HCC .