The importance of Smad3 in monocytic development was first highlighted by the increased frequency of CD11b+Ly6Clo cells (with higher CD86 expression) and fewer CD11b+Ly6G+ granulocytic cells in tumor-free mice overexpressing Smad3 in myeloid cells (Lys2-Smad3-AAV9). Here, ITGAM is linked to neoplasm.