ABSTRACT
Smad proteins transduce signals from transforming growth factor beta superfamily ligands that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and death through activation of receptor serine/threonine kinases. TGF-beta/Smads signal pathway not only has transforming potential but can also drive tumourigenesis, malignant progression, invasion and metastasis of human cancers. Using the immuno-histochemistry, we investigate the expression and location of TGF-beta R II, Smad2, Smad4 and Smad7 in 20 lung cancer specimens and 8 lung cancer cell lines. The results suggest that aberrant smads protein expression is significantly related to lung cancer tumoruigenesis and progression. Interestingly, TGF-beta R II and Smad7 strongly express in high metastasis cell lines. High expression of TGF-beta R II and smad7 in the cell lines with high-metastatic potential showed a conceivable TGF-beta signal pathway independent Smads in the lung cancer, and that might mediate invasion and metastasis of lung cancer.