After 5% O2 induction in MDA-MB-231 cells, the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway was inhibited by MEL and the expression of NF-κB, HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) decreased, while the expression of Bax and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was reversed, ultimately disrupting the tumor microenvironment (TME) of cancer cells and activating the phenomenon of apoptosis (Mir Hassani et al., 2021). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is cancer.