SMAD7 and hepatocellular carcinoma: These data perfectly match our previous findings in patients, indicating a survival correlation with SMAD7 expression levels in tumors or surrounding tissue, which was, however, independent of the SMAD7 expression ratio in tumors vs surrounding tissue.7 This highlights changes in the microenvironment during the development of HCC and the importance of SMAD7 in both tumor and non-tumor cells in the tumorigenic process.