TGFB1 and cancer: Of note, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a receptor protein that has been documented to control several cellular processes, and TGF-β, upon binding with its ligand, results in the phosphorylation of SMADs; thereby, phosphorylated SMADs translocate to the nucleus to induce the transcription of several genes which foster oncogenic cellular processes including proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, EMT, and metastasis in late stages of cancer [137].