摘要: The relationships between transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and cancer are varied complex. paradigm that is emerging from the experimental evidence accumulated over past decade or so TGF-β can play two different opposite roles with respect to process of malignant progression. During early stages carcinogenesis, acts predominantly as a potent tumor suppressor may mediate actions chemopreventive agents such retinoids nonsteroidal anti-estrogens. However, at some point during development progression neoplasms, bioactive TGF-βs make their appearance in microenvironment cells escape TGF-β-dependent arrest. In many cases, this resistance consequence loss mutational inactivation genes encode signaling intermediates. These include types I II receptors, well receptor-associated common-mediator Smads. stage which TGF-β-resistant clones come dominate cell population neoplasm remains be defined. phenotypic switch TGF-β-sensitivity TGF-β-resistance occurs carcinogenesis has several important implications for prevention treatment.