Molecular Cancer Biology Program, Biomedicum Helsinki and Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2011 Jun;16(2):109-15. doi: 10.1007/s10911-011-9203-7. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
Estrogen receptor-α (ERα) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathways are major regulators during mammary gland development, function and tumorigenesis. Predominantly, they have opposing roles in proliferation and apoptosis. While ERα signaling supports growth and differentiation and is antiapoptotic, mammary gland epithelia cells are very sensitive to TGF-β-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Their regulatory pathways intersect, and ERα blocks TGF-β pathway by multiple means, including direct interactions of its signaling components, Smads. However, relatively little is known of the dysfunction of their interactions in cancer. A better understanding would help to develop new strategies for breast cancer treatment.
雌激素受体-α（ERα）和转化生长因子（TGF）-β信号通路是乳腺发育、功能和肿瘤发生过程中的主要调节因子。它们主要在增殖和凋亡方面发挥相反的作用。虽然 ERα 信号支持生长和分化，并具有抗凋亡作用，但乳腺上皮细胞对 TGF-β诱导的细胞周期停滞和凋亡非常敏感。它们的调节途径相互交叉，ERα 通过多种方式阻断 TGF-β 途径，包括其信号成分 Smads 的直接相互作用。然而，它们相互作用的功能障碍在癌症中的相关信息相对较少。更好地了解这一点将有助于为乳腺癌治疗开发新策略。
