TNF and neoplasm: The recognition of these DAMPs by toll-like receptors leads to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which furthermore activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which in turn promote tumor proliferation.