In addition, ferrichrome did not influence the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-1beta, and the histological severity in a DSS-colitis model, thus indicating that ferrichrome inhibits cancer cell growth, but not the advent of a precancerous condition, such as inflammation, related to the colitis-associated pathway. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is cancer.