TNF and familial pancreatic carcinoma: Some studies have shown detectable levels of TNF-α in the serum of pancreatic cancer patients with TNF-α levels inversely correlating with body weight and BMI; other studies involving patients with advanced cancers have shown no correlation between circulating TNF-α levels, weight loss, and anorexia (Maltoni et al., 1997; Karayiannakis et al., 2001; Rydén et al., 2008).