It is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, originally found in macrophages.[13–15] In contrast, GDF-15 is substantially expressed in tumors and the tumor microenvironment; elevated levels of GDF-15 are directly associated with the emergence and spread of malignancies.[16,17] The GDF-15 gene in humans is located on chromosome 19 at position p12-13.2. Here, GDF15 is linked to neoplasm.