Signal transduction of transforming growth factor-β family and tumor

Cytokines of the transforming growth factor (TGF-β)family exert multiple biological effects by their signal transduction pathways that undergo a basic course of ligands of TGF-β family→receptors→SMADs→transcription factors→DNA expression. The genetic variety of different signal molecules in transduction pathways of TGF-β family were found in various benign or malignant tumors, and this had much significance in designing effective therapeutic strategy.