In addition, studies in xenograft nude mouse models of HCC indicate that M2 TAMs release TGF-β, mediate Smad2/3 binding to the miR-362-3p promoter, lead to miR-362-3p overexpression, and promotes EMT processes that significantly contribute to proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells (Zhang et al., 2019b). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.