Since TGFβ governs fundamental functions during embryogenesis as well as in adult cells [43, 44] and induces EMT and stemness in lung cancer [45, 46], we next analysed whether phosphorylation of SMAD2L, known to be mediated by non-TGFβ signalling pathways [23, 47], affects canonical TGFβ signalling. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and lung cancer.