Transforming Growth Factor-Beta and Oxidative Stress Interplay: Implications in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Progression

Figure 3

TGF-β and ROS cooperate in the induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition. Both TGF-β and ROS are involved in the induction of EMT, as well as their mutual cooperation. TGF-β stimulates ROS production in cancer cells, and the enhancement of ROS levels in turn may induce the activation of extracellular matrix-associated TGF-β latent complex, thus exacerbating TGF-β-induced EMT. Meanwhile, the increment of ROS also stimulates EMT, and both finally may collaborate to induce conversion of the epithelial to the mesenchymal phenotype, thus strengthening tumor progression and metastasis.