Transforming Growth Factor-ß in Cancer Therapy, Volumes 1 and 2, provide a compendium of findings about the role of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) in cancer treatment and therapy. The first volume, Basic and Clinical Biology, is divided into three parts. Part I presents basic concepts of transforming growth factor-ß signaling in normal physiology and cancer pathobiology. Part II investigates transforming growth factor-ß superfamily members in normal and tumor biology. Part III details transforming growth factor-ß in inflammation and fibrosis.

This volume's companion, Cancer Treatment and Therapy, examines transforming growth factor-ß in several developing and advanced cancers and discusses methods of treatment and therapy. Together, Transforming Growth Factor-ß in Cancer Therapy, Volumes 1 and 2, provide researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive and cutting-edge reference for the findings about the role of transforming growth factor-ß in biology and cancer treatment.

Zusammenfassung
Transforming Growth Factor-jl in Cancer Therapy, Volume I: Basicand Clinical Biology The present volume brings together a wealth of information that is fundamental to understanding the roleofTGF-~ in the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. It is not even 25 years sinceTGF-~ was first isolated and characterized as a dimeric pep­ tide from both human and bovine sources (1-3), but the entire fieldofTGF-~ research has grown and expanded so that it is now a central theme in all of cell biology. There is almost no tissue or organ in the mammalian body in whichTGF-~ does not playa central role in embryonic differentiation or in adult function, and furthermore, malfunction of the normal physiologyofTGF-~can have disastrous consequences in almost all ofthese sites. Therefore, the present comprehensive review of so many aspects ofTGF-~ function is a most welcome attempt to bring together a huge body of experimental data that is of the utmost importance in the field of oncology.

Inhalt
Basic Concepts of TGF-? Signaling in Normal Physiology and Cancer Pathobiology.- Component Hardware for Transforming Growth Factor-? Signal Transduction: TGF-? Ligands, TGF-? Receptors, and Smads.- TGF-? Signaling in Homeostasis and Cancer.- TGF-? Availability: Latent TGF-? and Latent TGF-? Binding Proteins.- Biological Functions of Latent TGF-?-Binding Proteins and Activation of TGF-?.- Regulators of Smad2/3 Transcription and Phosphorylation.- Interaction of Smad4 and Embryonic Liver Fodrin-?-spectrin in Hyperplasia, Neoplasia, and Tumor Suppression.- Regulation of Smad Activity by Phosphorylation.- Nuclear Targeting of TGF-?-Activated Smads in Normal and Tumor Biology.- Ski, SnoN, and Akt as Negative Regulators of Smad Activity: Balancing Cell Death and Cell Survival.- Transforming Growth Factor-? in Cancer Therapy: Smurfs in TGF-? Signaling and Regulation of Bone Homeostasis and Cancer.- Involvement of km23 Dynein Light Chains in TGF ? Signaling.- TGF-? Signaling in Fibroblastic Cells and Oncogenesis.- Mechanisms of TGF-?-Induced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells.- Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation by TGF-? Disabled in Cancer.- Transforming Growth Factor-? in Cancer Therapy.- TGF-? and Smad Signaling in Transcriptome Reprogramming During EMT.- Functional Interactions Between MMPs and TGF-? in Normal and Tumor Tissue.- Cooperation Between TGF-? and Wnt Pathway Components in Regulating Mesenchymal Stem Cell Function.- Interaction of Oncogenic Ras and TGF?1 Signaling in Cancer: Lessons From the Multistage Skin Carcinogenesis Model.- TGF-? Superfamily Members in Normal and Tumor Biology.- Proteomics Analysis of TGF? Superfamily Members.- Mullerian Inhibiting Substance: A Potential Nontoxic, Naturally Occurring Therapeutic Agent for Certain HumanCancers.- Activins, Inhibins, and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins as Modulators and Biomarkers of Prostate Cancer Progression.- Bone Morphogenic Proteins and Angiogenesis in Developing Tumors.- Histone Methyltransferase and Smad Interactions in BMP Signaling.- Endoglin (CD105): A Strong Candidate for Immunologic Targeting of Tumor Neovasculature in Human Malignancies.- Activins and Inhibins in Cancer Progression.- Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/Growth Differentiation Factors and Smad Activation in Ovarian Granulosa Cells and Carcinoma.- Regulation of the Transforming Growth Factor-? Superfamily by Betaglycan.- Uterine Sensitization Associated Gene-1: A Bone Morphogenetic Protein Antagonist with a Role in Kidney.- Role of Betaig-h3 Gene in Carcinogenesis.- Activins and the Liver.- Myostatin Signaling in Normal and Tumor Cells.- TGF-? in Inflammation and Fibrosis.- Triterpenoids, Vitamin D, and TGF-?/Smad Signaling in Inflammation and Cancer.- Thrombospondin-Dependent Activation of Latent TGF-? in Fibrosis and Disease.- TGF-? in Pulmonary Fibrosis.- The Role of TGF-? in Bleomycin Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis.- Smads in the Fibrotic Response: Findings in the Smad3 Knockout Mouse.- TGF-? Signaling in Renal Fibrosis and Inflammation: Gene Therapy Using Ultrasound-Microbubble-Mediated Inducible Smad7.- Transforming Growth Factor-? Peptide Signaling in Pulmonary Development, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Fibrosis, and Emphysema.- The Role of TGF-? in Radiation and Chemotherapy Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis: Inhibition of TGF-? as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy.- Negative Regulation of the TGF-? Family Signal Pathway by Inhibitory Smads and Their Involvement in Cancer and Fibrosis.- TGF-?-Related Antifibrotic Strategies in the Eye.- Transforming Growth Factor-? in CutaneousTissue Repair.- Topical Application of TGF-?1 Peptide Inhibitors for the Therapy of Skin Fibrosis.- Overexpressed Truncated TGF-? Type II Receptor Inhibits Fibrotic Behavior of Keloid Fibroblasts In Vitro and Experimental Scar Formation In Vivo.