SMAD7 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In order to understand the molecular mechanism of SMAD7 as a tumor suppressor in the development of HCC, Tamoxifen-inducible hepatocyte-specific SMAD7 expression was induced or blunted using albumin promoter-driven constructs in SMAD7 Tg and SMAD7 KO mice (Figures 1a and b).