TNF and neoplasm: Some scholars have posited that diets high in iron may elevate the risk of developing LC, thus warranting further scrutiny.[19–23] Costa et al have indicated that in LC, iron-containing tumor-associated macrophages increase the levels of reactive oxygen species and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, which contribute to tumor cell death.[24] However, the precise pathological mechanisms underlying the role of iron homeostasis in the development of LC remain elusive.