alks 1 7 smad 2 smad 3 smad 4 activins a b c d and e in another embodiment the methods may include using blocking antibodies against members of the activin signaling pathway including actrii actri smad 2 smad 4 activins a b c d and e for decreasing protein function in another embodiment the methods may include using oligonucleotides oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate bonds rnai or inhibitors to decrease phosphorylation of activin signaling pathway members in another embodiment the methods may include using oligonucleotides oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate bonds rnai or inhibitors to inhibit actriia and or actriib binding to alks 1 7 in another embodiment the methods may include using oligonucleotides oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate bonds rnai or inhibitors to decrease smad 2 smad 4 translocation to the nucleus in another embodiment the methods may include natural cellular inhibitors of the signal transduction pathway of actrii signaling such as inhibin and follistatin the treatments may include single agents combinations of agents or no agents the treatments also may include solutions used to dissolve the agents cell detachment and adhesion may be detected by any suitable method which may include but are not limited to cell cytometry e g trypan blue fluorescent based cell detection assays e g calcein am invitrogen inc and mitotracker red invitrogen inc luminescent based detection assays e g cell titer glo promega inc and spectrophotometry based detection assays e g crystal violet mts mtt assays such as promega celltiter 96 u00ae aqueous non radioactive cell proliferation assay promega inc and chem icon cell adhesion assays cell invasion may be detected by any suitable method which may include but are not limited to the scratch wound assay cell invasion assays using fluorescent detection.