CHI3L1 and cancer: 1) CHI3L1 promoted cancer cell proliferation by regulating cell cycles; 2) CHI3L1 promoted cancer cell invasion and metastasis; 3) CHI3L1 regulate liver cancer potentially by regulating the TGF-β signaling pathways; 4) CHI3L1 has direct kinase activities or activate kinase to phosphorylate SMAD2, SMAD3.