Smad4

SMADs are members of the MAD-related family of molecules. MAD-related proteins are a family of intracellular proteins that are essential components in the signaling pathways of the serine/threonine kinase receptors of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. Alterations in the SMAD4 gene was primarily discovered in pancreatic cancer (duct adenocarcinoma) but occur in a variety of cancers such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, melanomas, head and neck cancers and many others, though with higher frequencies in gastrointestinal tract cancers. Loss of SMAD4 expression in tumors has also been shown to affect cancer progression and therapy, such as reduced response to adjuvant chemotherapy.