Transforming growth factor β receptor signaling restrains growth of pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is extremely malignant. Efficient control of cancer growth may substantially improve the survival of PDAC patients. However, no efficient treatments are so far available. Here, we inhibited transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling by overexpression of a key inhibitor of this pathway, SMAD7, in the mouse pancreas, using a recently developed intraductal infusion method. Overexpression of SMAD7 significantly increased growth of both implanted PDAC and PDAC by K-ras modification. Our data thus suggest that TGFβ receptor signaling restrains growth of PDAC, and modulation of TGFβ receptor signaling may be an effective treatment for PDAC.