TGFB1 and cancer: Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of MPM tissues revealed strong nuclear accumulation of phospho-SMAD2, suggesting constitutive activation of TGF-β signalling in this cancer.44 Using an immunocompetent syngeneic mouse model, Suzuki et al.45,46 demonstrated that TGF-β has a pro-oncogenic role in MPM that is related to immune suppression.