HMGB1 and cancer: HMGB1 is a tumour-related gene 28, and its overexpression of HMGB1 is associated with the hallmarks of cancer 29, such as unlimited replicative potential, ability to develop blood vessels, evasion of programmed cell death, self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to inhibitors of growth, inflammation, tissue invasion and metastasis 30.