In vivo, lathyrol suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βR1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, and Smad9 in RCC xenografts; promoted the protein expression of Smad6; and decreased the protein expression of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, cyclin A1, cyclin E1, CDK6, CDK4, and CDK1 while increasing the expression of P16, P21, and P27. The gene discussed is SMAD4; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.