Previous studies also support our findings: knockdown of TNF-α gene expression through blockage of the NF-κB pathway inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a TNBC cell line14; and in a murine model of TNBC, targeting TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor 2 suppressed TNBC tumour growth and metastasis53. Here, TNF is linked to neoplasm.