Tumor cells show a distinctive metabolic profile from healthy epithelial cells, and especially, alterations in lipid metabolism are observed in tumour cells that have acquired malignant phenotypes.18,22,23 Our previous study reported that, based on unique metabolome profiles in cancer tissues, PESI-MS allows us to discriminate cancerous regions from non-cancerous regions.19,24,25 Moreover, TGF-β/SMAD signalling is associated with phospholipid metabolism in liver injury;26 however, the effects of TGF-β on lipid metabolism remain unclear in tumour tissues. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is neoplasm.