TGFβ can also indirectly activate Smad2-mediated TGF-β-driven transformation from fibroblasts to CAFs in gastric cancer via upregulation of lactose lectin-1 (galectin-1, Gal1) expression in fibroblasts via the PI3K/Akt axis (Zheng et al., 2016). Here, TGFB1 is linked to gastric cancer.