Reduced levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as adiponectin) and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8), which can have mitogenic, anti-apoptotic, and angiogenic effects, accelerate tumor progression. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is neoplasm.