Inflammatory breast cancer cells are characterized by abrogated TGF β1-dependent cell motility and SMAD3 activity

ConclusionWe demonstrate attenuated SMAD3 transcriptional activity and SMAD protein expression in IBC, together with obliterated TGF β1-induced IBC cell motility. The further reduction of nuclear SMAD expression levels in tumor emboli suggests that the activity of these transcription factors is involved in the metastatic dissemination of IBC cells, possibly by enabling collective invasion after partial EMT.

Source: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment - February 9, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research