Transforming growth factor β signaling impairs Neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis while promoting pulmonary metastasis

The influence of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling on Neu-induced mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis was examined with transgenic mouse models. We generated mice expressing an activated TGF-β type I receptor or dominant negative TGF-β type II receptor under control of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. When crossed with mice expressing activated forms of the Neu receptor tyrosine kinase that selectively couple to the Grb2 or Shc signaling pathways the activated type I receptor increased the latency of mammary tumor formation but also enhanced the frequency of extravascular lung metastasis. Conversely, expression of the dominant negative type II receptor decreased the latency of Neu-induced mammary tumor formation while significantly reducing the incidence of extravascular lung metastases. These observations argue that TGF-β can promote the formation of lung metastases while impairing Neu-induced tumor growth and suggest that extravasation of breast cancer cells from pulmonary vessels is a point of action of TGF-β in the metastatic process.