TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Consistent with earlier reports that have linked chronic TGF‐β exposure to the acquisition of mesenchymal stem‐related traits in epithelial Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 HCC cell lines [33], our results indicate that Huh7 or Hep3B subpopulations resuming proliferation following TGF‐β‐induced senescence may eventually acquire unique hallmarks associated with the functional and phenotypic plasticity of tumor cells.