TGFB1 and neoplasm: Functional assays demonstrated that SLC20A1 enhances the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells, whereas its knockout significantly suppresses these malignant phenotypes.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study represents the first comprehensive integration of spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to uncover the spatial organization of TGF-β signaling in HCC and to identify the TGF-β-SLC20A1 axis as a critical driver of tumor invasion at the tumor-stroma interface.