While TGF‐β1 has numerous well‐described pro‐tumourigenic effects, including promoting tumour cell epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) 6, immune suppression, and stromal myofibroblast differentiation 14, its role as a tumour suppressor in the stages of early carcinogenesis has raised the possibility that targeting the integrin in the wrong setting might act to promote, rather than suppress, tumour progression. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and neoplasm.