Transient transfection of TβRIII dramatically improved the TGF-β1-induced anti-tumour effect on human CAL-27 TSCC cells, which is associated with significant activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent pro-apoptotic signalling pathways and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2b (CDKN2b)-mediated G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. The gene discussed is CDKN2B; the disease is neoplasm.