Given our current knowledge, the tumor suppressor effect of DPT is mainly performed by increasing the activity of TGF-β, these findings suggest that DPT may act as another component of the TGF-β signaling pathway, in the pre-receptor step through increased biological activity of TGF-β, and may account for changes in this pathway in the remaining colon cancers in which changes in TGF-β pathway have not been demonstrated. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is colonic neoplasm.