TNF and neoplasm: As TNF-α is a powerful inducer of NF-kB, a pleiotropic transcription factor supporting both inflammation and carcinogenesis [51] and blockade of NF-kB activation in the intestinal epithelium significantly reduces the incidence of colitis-associated tumors [52], the pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting effects of TNF-α in this model could be mediated by NF-kB.