SMAD2 and neoplasm: Collectively, SGK1 expression was upregulated by the PI3K pathway activated by ligation of Dex and GR, and then SGK1 phosphorylated Nedd4l, which led to Smad2 release from the suppressive Nedd4l-Smad2 complex, and subsequent upregulation of CTGF, which finally promoted tumor metastasis (Fig. 6E).