HMGB1 and cancer: Although HMGB1 overexpression has been reported to be common in many types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [16,17], breast cancer [18], colorectal cancer [19], pancreatic cancer [20], and malignant mesothelioma [21], the ability of different types of tumors to produce their own pool of circulating HMGB1 remains uncertain.