TNF and colorectal carcinoma: Consistent with the current study, a gene expression signature identified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells to discriminate patients with CRC from subjects without the lesions was significantly enriched in biological functions related to inflammatory and immune response.[10] On the other hand, ZC3H12A gene could be activated by pro-inflammatory stimuli, including IL- 1β, IL-17, TNF-α, phorbol myristate acetate [22, 26, 27] and lipopolysaccharides in macrophages and hepatocytes [22, 28].