TGFB1 and colorectal carcinoma: Except for activating TGF-β, another observed dominant character of subgroup 2 is the upregulation of TPT1. (red box, Figure 3) (2) the high metastatic potential of CRC can be induced when TGF-β activation is mixed in tumor cells that still maintain some epithelial characters (red box, Figures 3, S3).