HGF and hepatocellular carcinoma: In HCC, TGF‐β acts anti‐oncogenically in normal hepatocytes and early carcinomas, yet cytostatic and cytotoxic effects are frequently lost after progression, leading to invasion and metastasis.13, 14 Tumor‐promoting TGF‐β signaling has been shown to depend on receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling such as epidermal growth factor (EGF)/EGFR and hepatocyte growth factor/Met as well as integrins, which allows chemoresistance and escape from TGF‐β/Smad‐mediated apoptosis.15, 16, 17 Our recent study showed that signaling from the RTK Axl is central for TGF‐β‐mediated HCC progression.