HMGB1 and neoplasm: However, HMGB1 could promote the release of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 by activating MAPK- and MyD88-dependent NF-KB pathways in the extracellular matrix, thus stimulating tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis [16].