Our biopsy study in NSCLC extends these findings by demonstrating that SMAD3 activation is prominent in N2 TANs, that SMAD3 activation negatively correlates with the percentage of N1 state TANs, and that a greater percentage of N1 TANs in the TME is associated with better disease-free survival. The gene discussed is SMAD3; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.