TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Having found that TGFβ enhances the myofibroblast phenotype of HCC CAFs (higher αSMA expression) and promotes PRG4 expression by these cells, and some liver cancer cells, we aimed to determine a possible impact of the tumor tissue expression of PRG4 functionally associated TGFβ, αSMA, and the best known PRG4 receptor, CD44, on the survival of HCC patients.