MZF1 and cancer: Interestingly, MZF1 regulates the expression of TGFβ1 gene (TGFB1) in response to osteopontin-induced integrin signaling in human mesenchymal stem cells, where increased TGFβ signaling induces them to differentiate and adapt a cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype, a process that leads to increased tumor growth and metastasis [14].