Transforming growth factor-$eta$ (TGF-$eta$) is a highly pleiotropic cytokine playing pivotal roles in immune regulation. TGF-$eta$ facilitates tumor cell survival and metastasis by targeting multiple cellular components. Focusing on its immunosuppressive functions, TGF-$eta$ antagonists have been employed for cancer treatment to enhance tumor immunity. TGF-$eta$ antagonists exert anti-tumor effects through #1 activating effector cells such as NK cells and cytotoxic $CD8^+$ Tcells (CTLs), #2 inhibiting regulatorypressor cell populations, #3 making tumor cells visible to immune cells, #4 inhibiting the production of tumor growth factors. This review focuses on the effect of TGF-$eta$< on T cells, which are differentiated into effector T cells or newly identified tumor-supporting T cells.
