In summary, we disclose that upon TGF-β stimulation, SMAD2/3 directly binds to the lnc-UTGF promoter and induces lnc-UTGF transcription, whereas lnc-UTGF in turn increases the stability of SMAD2/4 mRNAs via a direct interaction, which consequently promotes the TGF-β/SMAD signaling and thus tumor metastasis (Fig. 8g). The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is neoplasm.