TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Meanwhile, in terms of the acquisition of stemness in HCC microenvironment, previous evidence indicated that any hepatic lineage cells, such as hepatocytes/cholangiocytes, progenitor cells, and stem cells, can acquire CSC properties through accumulated genetic and epigenetic alterations in diverse signaling pathways, including Akt/WNT/β-Catenin, TGF-β, MET, Hedgehog, MYC, p53, EGF, etc. [36].