For instance, in a study, assessing TAM ability to affect the malignant phenotype of human hepatoma Huh-7 cells, TAMs promoted the migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of Huh-7 cells through a mechanism requiring activation of the Gli2/IGF-2/ERK1/2 signaling pathway and the resulting secretion of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) (24). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.