Bone morphogenetic proteins in melanoma: angel or devil?

MY Hsu, S Rovinsky, S Penmatcha, M Herlyn… - Cancer and Metastasis …, 2005 - Springer
MY Hsu, S Rovinsky, S Penmatcha, M Herlyn, DR Muirhead
Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 2005Springer
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-
β) superfamily serving multiple functions in many cell and tissue types including
proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and matrix production
during embryogenic development as well as in adult life. Despite the tremendous progress
in delineating functional derangements of BMP pathways in carcinogenesis during the last
decade, the biological significance of BMPs in human melanoma has received very little …
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily serving multiple functions in many cell and tissue types including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and matrix production during embryogenic development as well as in adult life. Despite the tremendous progress in delineating functional derangements of BMP pathways in carcinogenesis during the last decade, the biological significance of BMPs in human melanoma has received very little attention. It is now clear that biological responses to BMPs are cell type-specific and divergent effects, i.e., both oncogenic and tumor suppressor activities, have been described. Thus, knowledge generated in one system may not translate directly to another. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of BMP signaling in various human cancers and discuss original data pertaining to cutaneous melanoma obtained in our laboratory.
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