TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Moreover, mutations in the SMAD2/4-binding sites abrogated the pro-migration effect of lnc-UTGF, suggesting that the pro-metastasis ability of lnc-UTGF in hepatoma cells mostly depends on its effect in increasing SMAD2/4 levels and enhancing the TGF-β/SMAD signaling.