For instance, EVs derived from various cancer cell types, in addition to TGF-β, transfer tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to normal recipient cells, promoting their proliferation, migration and anchorage-independent growth (Table 1) (Redzic et al., 2013; Urciuoli et al., 2018). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is cancer.