Signaling by TGF-β triggers CAF activation and supports fibrosis, which directly stimulates tumor cell growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through various pathways like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is neoplasm.