TNF and cancer: The anorexia associated with cancer cachexia is likely caused by the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and growth differentiation factor 15, that are produced either by the tumor or by the host in response to the tumor, which interfere with appetite signals within the anterior hypothalamus (8, 9).