TNF and infection: Furthermore, in line with the important role of TNF in host defense and tumor growth control, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-TNF antibody therapy, the pooled odds ratio for malignancy was 3.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.2–9.1) and for serious infection was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–3.1) [55].