Figure 7.

In the presence of TAp73 (right panel) and following TGF-β receptor activation by TGF-β, SMAD-dependent pathway is activated, promoting tumor-suppressive functions including BGN secretion, which traps TGF-β within the ECM. In the absence of TAp73 (left panel), the presence/activity of SMADs proteins are limited favoring, after TGF-β stimulation, the induction of the oncogenic SMAD-independent pathway leading to EMT. As a consequence, BGN expression/secretion is reduced, limiting TGF-β trapping within the ECM, which creates a positive loop that reinforce the oncogenic impact of SMAD-independent pathways