In the same line, CRC cells secrete EVs carrying integrin β-like 1 (ITGBL1) to the circulation, activating fibroblasts and stellate cells in the lung and the liver, which in turn secrete growth factors and cytokines, including TGF-β, IL-6 and IL-8 that promote metastatic cancer growth and invasiveness (Ji et al., 2020). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and colorectal carcinoma.