SMAD3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Axl signaling causes the aberrant phosphorylation of the Smad3 linker (Smad3L) region and induction of prometastatic target genes as well as increased secretion of TGF‐β1,18 which has been shown to have a large impact on the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.19 Despite tremendous efforts and large progress in cancer research, the molecular mechanisms underlying this “TGF‐β switch” in HCC are still poorly understood.