Hepatocyte-specific Smad4 deficiency inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis by promoting CXCL10/CXCR3-dependent CD8+- T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity

Sma mothers against decapentaplegic homologue 4 (Smad4) is a key mediator of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathway and plays complex and contradictory roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the specific role of Smad4 in hepatocytes in regulating hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly elucidated.