We and others have previously demonstrated how CRC subtypes are heavily influenced by the composition of the TME, and the significant association with poor prognosis in the fibroblast-rich, CMS4 and stem-like subtype.37–42 When compared with epithelial-rich subtypes, stroma-rich tumours display elevated signalling related to TGF-β and other stromal biologies, and this elevated signalling in general has been used as the rationale for targeting these pathways as potential therapeutic options. Here, TGFB1 is linked to neoplasm.