Accordingly, inhibition of TGF-β signaling using vactosertib considerably reduced the progression in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by bioluminescence signals and intrahepatic metastasis of HCC, indicated by the reduced number of intrahepatic metastatic nodules, in an SK-HEP1-Luciferase orthotopic xenograft mouse model. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.