TGFB1 and carcinoma: It is of great interest to note that the present results, showing that TGFβ had no direct effect on the carcinoma cells but inhibited their activity via the stellate cells, are consistent with the fact that BxPC-3 cells have mutations in the TGFβ pathway [33], abolishing the tumor suppressor effect of TGFβ, while these mutations are not likely to exist in the stellate cells.