Although the molecular basis of cancer cachexia has not been resolved completely, pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ, produced by tumor cells themselves or host immune cells in response to tumors have been identified to play key roles as the main humoral factors responsible for muscle wasting6, 7, 8. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is neoplasm.