TGFB1 and neoplasm: Notably, this pathway extensively crosstalks with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a central mediator in fibrosis and malignancy, promoting fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, ECM deposition, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis (54, 55).