TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The oncogenicity of TGF-β signaling is bolstered by results from a recent phase 2 clinical trial, in which inhibition of TGF-β signaling using a TGF-β receptor 1 inhibitor increased survival of patients with advanced HCC whose tumors expressed high levels of TGF-β and alpha-fetoprotein from 9 months to 21 months [24].