We hypothesize (a) that TNF-α release can be induced by a variety of chemotherapy agents, (b) that docetaxel-induced TNF-α release is an active cellular process, and (c) that the primary mechanism of docetaxel-induced TNF-α release is not attributable to direct ligand-binding of drug to TLR4 at the surface of human tumor cells. This evidence concerns the gene TLR4 and neoplasm.