Q&A: Blocking TGF-beta signals may prevent cancer in liver, GI system
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Transforming growth factor beta mutation biomarkers may help identify patients at high risk for cancer of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal system, according to data published in Gastroenterology.
Further studies on targeting and blocking transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) may lead to prevention strategies for several cancers and diseases.
Healio Gastroenterology spoke with Lopa Mishra, MD, director, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, about genetic alterations in TGF-beta and the role it may play in the development of cancer in the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal GI system.
Healio: Can you briefly discuss the design of the study?
Mishra: We conducted a comprehensive review of current research of an important pathway (TGF-beta) and its relation to gastrointestinal disease and cancer. By compiling and analyzing such a vast body of previously published studies — spanning the spectrum from genomics to preclinical studies — we hoped to uncover new clues around the role TGF-beta plays in the development of cancer in the liver, pancreas and GI system and a roadmap for future studies to understand its role and how it could be used to prevent and treat disease.
Healio: What are the key take-home messages from the study?
Mishra: The TGF-beta pathway has been found to be mutated in up to 40% of liver and GI cancers. This high prevalence indicates that it is a powerful and vital pathway to examine. The work performed by many in the field gives us new insight into how to harness the pathway in preventing and treating disease and cancer. For example, further research is needed, but evidence suggests that by blocking specific TGF-beta signals we could prevent cancer from even developing. And by genetically identifying mutations we would be able to pinpoint biomarkers to help identify high-risk cancer patients.
Healio: What is the importance of the study in clinical practice?
Mishra: While there is much more research to be done, the review could lead to identifying a signature that could predict those at high-risk for cancer development. Additionally, novel treatment methods could be developed like using immune checkpoint inhibitors, to control TGF-beta and treat disease or slow its progression. The future clinical practice of understanding and manipulating TGF-beta holds so much promise for so many devastating cancers. A new crop of drugs could be developed if we understand its role just a little more.
Healio: What is the next step in research?
Mishra: There are a few avenues of study, but the most promising would be to develop blood-based biomarkers that could predict cancer, and treatment strategies. We are seeing the emergence of cancer genomics, informing clinicians on course of care and targeted treatments, and identifying and interrupting the TGF-beta pathway in the human body holds a lot of promise to tackle these GI cancers and other diseases that are so common.
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