Transforming growth factor  (TGF) induces an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) during both physiological and pathological processes; however, the mechanism underlying this transition is not fully eluci-
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)1 is a fundamental multistep process that occurs during both physiological and pathological states (1, 2). By allowing cells to detach from the epithelial tissue where they originate and to migrate, such transitions are necessary for proper embryonic development. However, they also provide a way for epithelium-derived tumors from a benign stage to become invasive and metastasize throughout the body. It has been demonstrated that there is commonality in the signaling pathways regulating EMT during both embryonic development and tumor progression, suggesting that similar molecular mechanisms underlie these processes and raising the possibility that tumor metastasis might simply be considered as a reactivation of some aspects of the embryonic program of EMT.The process of EMT requires loss of cell-cell interaction and acquisition of fibroblastic morphology with increased expression of mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin (3). Among growth factors that can promote this structural conversion, transforming growth factor  (TGF) has been well characterized as an important inducer of EMT during development as well as during cancerogenesis (4). Indeed, although TGF is considered a tumor suppressor during the first stage of tumorigenesis, principally through its ability to cause growth arrest and apoptosis in many non-transformed epithelial cell types, numerous reports show that TGF can also promote tumor progression, particularly through its ability to promote EMT (4, 5). Moreover, it has been shown that blocking TGF signaling in transgenic mice that develop multifocal metastatic mammary tumors reduces mammary tumor intravasation and lung metastasis and increases mammary tumor cell apoptosis (6).TGF exerts its biological effects by inducing the formation of a heteromeric complex composed of type I and type II serine/ threonine kinases receptors. The activated receptor complex, in turn, phosphorylates and activates the receptor-regulated