TNF and neoplasm: Other potential contributors are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/9) or MMP-9, hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1α), a high proliferating index Ki-6 [9,10,11]; and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear DNA-binding protein with pro-inflammatory effects [12].