TGFB1 and neoplasm: Tumor cells disseminating into malignant ascites, i.e., ascites-disseminated tumor cells (aDTCs), are associated with high epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity [8, 9], continuous transcriptional activation, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway activation [8], possibly upregulating immune checkpoints and consequently inducing aDTC immune evasion from immune surveillance and immunotherapeutic pressure [8].