TNF and neoplasm: In contrast to tumor-bearing mice, serum cytokine profiles at 3 and 5 w p.i. in the RAW264.7 inoculation group showed increased levels of M1-related cytokines (MCP-1 and MIP-2 at 3 and 5 w p.i., and TNF-α at 5 w p.i. compared to 4T1 + RAW264.7 and 4T1) and decreased levels of M2-related cytokines (BAFF at 3 and 5 w p.i., and G-CSF at 5 w p.i. compared to 4T1 + RAW264.7 and 4T1; TGF-β1 at 3 and 5 w p.i. compared to 4T1), reflecting the local M1−/M2-related cytokine profile differences (Additional file 2: Figure S2).