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Role of SMAD proteins in colitis-associated cancer: from known to the unknown

Oncogene volume 37, pages 1–7 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Small mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) proteins are a family of signal transduction molecules in transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) ligand pathways that have been found to have a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Long standing IBD predisposes individuals to colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), an entity that possess unique characteristics compared to hereditary and sporadic cancer. The ligands of the TGFβ super family along with SMADs have also been implicated in several aspects of colorectal cancer formation. SMAD proteins are shown to be involved in a number of potentially carcinogenic mechanisms such as altering gene transcription, controlling stem cell differentiation to causing epigenetic changes. Modulation of these proteins has emerged as a novel therapeutic intervention for IBD although its effect on carcinogenesis remains elusive. This account reviews available evidence linking SMAD proteins to CAC and explores the potential areas for future research in this area.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the St Mark’s Foundation, ‘Action against cancer’ and the Commonwealth Scholarship commission for their invaluable contribution made towards our research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK,

    P Chandrasinghe, B Cereser, N Tabassum, A Hart, J Stebbing & J Warusavitarne

  2. St. Mark’s Hospital, London, Harrow, UK,

    P Chandrasinghe, M Moorghen, I Al Bakir, A Hart & J Warusavitarne

  3. University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

    P Chandrasinghe

  4. Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK,

    I Al Bakir

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  1. P Chandrasinghe
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Chandrasinghe, P., Cereser, B., Moorghen, M. et al. Role of SMAD proteins in colitis-associated cancer: from known to the unknown. Oncogene 37, 1–7 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2017.300

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