In addition to the common signaling pathway that promotes transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) fibrosis through SMAD proteins, it can also activate PI3K-AKT, RAS/MAPK, and p38 MAPK and other key signaling pathways in HCC (Derynck, 2005; Xu et al., 2009). Here, TGFB1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.