TRAF4 mediates activation of TGF-β signaling and is a biomarker for oncogenesis in breast cancer.

Abstract

The tumor-promoting arm of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) receptor signaling contributes to advanced cancer progression and is considered a master regulator of breast cancer metastasis. In mammals, there are six distinct members in the tumor-necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor (TRAF) family (TRAF1-TRAF6), with the function of TRAF4 not being extensively studied in the past decade. Although numerous studies have suggested that there is elevated TRAF4 expression in human cancer, it is still unknown in which oncogenic pathway TRAF4 is mainly implicated. This review highlights TGF-β-induced SMAD-dependent signaling and non-SMAD signaling as the major pathways regulated by TRAF4 involved in breast cancer metastasis.

• Authors: FangFang Zhou, Fang Li, Feng Xie, ZhengKui Zhang, HuiZhe Huang, Long Zhang
• Journal: Science China. Life sciences (Sci China Life Sci) Vol. 57 Issue 12 Pg. 1172-6 (Dec 2014) ISSN: 1869-1889 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 25249198 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Smad Proteins
• TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 4
• TRAF4 protein, human
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• SMURF2 protein, human
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Topics

• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Female
• Humans
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Prognosis
• Signal Transduction (physiology)
• Smad Proteins (metabolism)
• TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 4 (physiology)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (metabolism)
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases (metabolism)