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Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 506–520 (1 July 2006) | doi:10.1038/nrc1926

Tumour microenvironment: TGF|[beta]|: the molecular Jekyll and Hyde of cancer

Brian Bierie & Harold L. Moses

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signalling regulates cancer through mechanisms that function either within the tumour cell itself or through host–tumour cell interactions. Studies of tumour-cell-autonomous TGFβ effects show clearly that TGFβ signalling has a mechanistic role in tumour suppression and tumour promotion. In addition, factors in the tumour microenvironment, such as fibroblasts, immune cells and the extracellular matrix, influence the ability of TGFβ to promote or suppress carcinoma progression and metastasis. The complex nature of TGFβ signalling and crosstalk in the tumour microenvironment presents a unique challenge, and an opportunity to develop therapeutic intervention strategies for targeting cancer.