TGFβ1 activates autophagy earlier than execution of apoptosis, and silencing of autophagy genes by siRNA attenuates the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction by TGFβ1 in HuH7 cells (human hepatocellular carcinoma cells), indicating that autophagy activation should partially contribute to TGFβ-mediated growth inhibition. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.