Through the NF-κB pathway, TNF-α can induce the expression of TIM-3 in NK cells, the upregulation of TIM-3 may be correlated with NK-cell dysfunction in the EC microenvironment, and the frequency of peripheral TIM-3+ NK cells is associated with tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the clinical stage (119). Here, HAVCR2 is linked to neoplasm.