Monocytes, which differentiate into tissue macrophages and dendritic cells, can mediate tumor-associated monocyte infiltration in solid tumors, and induce various chemokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 to promote tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and distant metastasis34,35. The gene discussed is TGFA; the disease is neoplasm.