Transforming growth factor β signalling exerts potent growth–inhibitory effects in normal epithelial cells; however, late in tumour progression, TGFβ has been shown to cooperate with other pro-oncogenic pathways to support tumour progression, which may be due to the ability of TGFβ to stimulate EMT (Xu et al, 2009). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and neoplasm.