Title:Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, a Regulator and Therapeutic Agent on Breast Cancer
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Dongwu Liu, Xiaoqian Wang and Zhiwei Chen
Affiliation:School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, 255049, Zibo, China.
Keywords:TNF-α, breast cancer, signal pathway, tumor biotherapy, estrogen, tumor proliferation.
Abstract:The cell-mediated immunity and cytotoxic agents play a significant role on tumor cell apoptosis.
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an intricate linker between inflammation and cancer through
mediating the process of apoptosis and cell-mediated immunity. A variety of evidences have confirmed
the critical role of TNF-α on tumor migration, proliferation, matrix degradation, tumor metastasis,
invasion, and angiogenesis. Through binding to receptors, TNF-α participates in activating multiple
cell signaling cascades that link inflammation, survival and evolution towards breast cancer. TNF-α is
an important agent for tumor biotherapy, but its clinical application is limited for its severe fatal systemic toxicity. The
poly-lactic acid microspheres (PLAM) with intratumoral cytokine release hold tremendous potential for the immunotherapy
of breast cancer, and TNF-α antagonists may offer therapeutic potential in solid tumors. In addition, TNF-α is related
with the blockage of estrogen and progesterone receptors. For breast cancer treatment, it is necessary to understand the
molecular signaling pathways that mediate TNF-α and the aggressive behavior of negative breast cancer. The aim of present
review is to summarize the effect of TNF-α on breast cancer cells.
