Other drugs such as the transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) blocker galunisertib are undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of HCC.8 A large body of evidence indicates that TGFB1 is an important key to tumor progression, as it promotes the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activates the WNT pathway, a hallmark of HCC.9 This evidence concerns the gene TGFBR1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.