The third group comprising HCC-T and HCC-M that lack a cytostatic response despite strong intrinsic P21 expression, display some features of responsive cells like i) strong Smad3 phosphorylation, ii) low TGF-β1 and Smad7 expression, but controversially show iii) no CAGA- or ARE reporter activation, and iv) no TGF-β induced Smad7 promoter, Smad7, Bim or PAI-1 mRNA. This evidence concerns the gene SMAD3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.