In breast cancer, bone marrow cells secrete parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP), TNF-α, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and/or IL-11 stimulate the release of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) from osteoblasts and suppress the release of the RANKL antagonist osteoprotegerin, allowing for breast tumor CTCs to colonize the bone marrow (37). Here, TNF is linked to breast cancer.