Progression of melanoma is suppressed by targeting all transforming growth factor‑β isoforms with an Fc chimeric receptor.

Melanoma is an aggressive type of cancer originating from the skin that arises from neoplastic changes in melanocytes. Transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) is a pleiotropic cytokine and is known to contribute to melanoma progression by inducing the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and creating an environment that favors tumor progression. There are three TGF‑β isoforms, TGF‑β1, TGF‑β2 and TGF‑β3, all of which engage in pro‑tumorigenic activities by activating SMAD signaling pathways. All TGF‑β isoforms activate signaling pathways by binding to their TGF‑β type I (TβRI) and type II (TβRII) receptors. Thus, effective targeting of all TGF‑β isoforms is of great importance. In the present study, chimeric proteins comprising the extracellular domains of TβRI and/or TβRII fused with the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin (IgG) were validated in the melanoma context. The Fc chimeric receptor comprising both TβRI and TβRII (TβRI‑TβRII‑Fc) effectively trapped all TGF‑β isoforms. Conversely, TβRII‑Fc chimeric receptor, that comprises TβRII only, was able to interact with TGF‑β1 and TGF‑β3 isoforms, but not with TGF‑β2, which is a poor prognostic factor for melanoma patients. Accordingly, it was revealed that TβRI‑TβRII‑Fc chimeric receptor suppressed the EMT program in melanoma cells