TGFB1 and neoplasm: This contention is partly supported by our data using four different NSCLC cell lines with epithelial vs. mesenchymal phenotype, and also suggested by a recently published report showing that chronic exposure to TGF-β1 in the tumor microenvironment may lead to the acquisition of EMT phenotype, which further leads to increased cell motility and invasiveness, resulting in tumor metastasis [46].