Abstract 2404 A quantifiable, cell-based assay for functional evaluation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) inhibitors

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a cytokine produced by nearly every cell and tissue in the human body. In healthy physiology, TGFβ functions to ensure cell and tissue homeostasis; it is also critical to wound and bone healing. Dysfunction of TGFβ can contribute to cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the anti-tumor function of natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T-cells, which are effector immune cells capable of eliminating cancer cells via cytotoxicity. TGFβ is the ligand for the serine/threonine kinase receptor type II receptor (TGFβ-R2).