SMAD7 and colorectal carcinoma: Sma-and mad-related protein 7 (SMAD7), as a member of the SMAD family, may play a damaging role in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway by interacting with the mobilization of other SMAD proteins, which indirectly contributes to tumorigenesis.[3] As a critical component in the intracellular signaling shutdown mechanism of transforming growth factor (TGF), it can block the tumor-suppressive function of TGF-β at an early stage of carcinogenesis, such as CRC.[4]