CD44 and neoplasm: TGFβ-dependent effects are linked to tumor-induced angiogenesis and direct immunosuppressive effects mediated by a decrease on the innate and adaptive antitumor immune response.134 Preclinical studies on the therapeutic potential of galunisertib (LY2157299), an inhibitor of TGFβ serine/threonine kinase type 1 receptor (TGFβ-RI), have shown anti-tumor effects in neuroblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, showing an increase on natural killer cells;135 and modulating the expression of CD44+,136 respectively.