TGFB1 and neoplasm: Furthermore, TGFβ plays a key role in tumor-stroma crosstalk (23–28) and activation of HSCs leads to secretion of cytokines (including TGFβ, stromal derived factor (SDF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), HGF and ECM proteins, fibronectin and collagen) (24,26–29).