SMAD2 and cancer: In the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) the increased transcriptional activity of phosphorylated Smad2 and 3 activates the expression of target genes, such as TGF-β1, MMP-2, MMP-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, Snail and Slug, thus promoting cancer cell mobility and invasion [28].