SMAD2 and Hepatic fibrosis: It has been reported that CTHRC1 levels are enhanced in fibroblasts and chondrocytic cells in response to TGF‐β family members,10 and many lines of evidence indicated that CTHRC1 regulates the TGF‐β signaling cascade via the activation of Smad2/3 phosphorylation during arterial injury9, 31 and hepatic fibrosis.32 We demonstrated that treatment with recombinant TGF‐β increases the CTHRC1 level in CRC cells, resulting in invasiveness and EMT promotion, by activating the TGF‐β signaling pathway.