Clathrin switches Transforming Growth Factor-β role to pro-tumorigenic in liver cancer.

•CLTC expression increases during liver tumorigenesis in humans and mice.•CLTC expression is required for TGF-β-induced anti-apoptotic signals in liver cells.•Autocrine TGF-β signalling in invasive HCC cells upregulates CLTC expression.•High levels of TGFB and CLTC correlate with lower overall survival in patients with HCC.•CLTC expression may help to select patients that will benefit from anti-TGF-β therapy.