Elevated expression of TNF-α in the TME has been associated with tumoral invasion through enhanced pro-inflammatory processes in OSCC cells and paracrine-mediated recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells.6 Its function as a pro-inflammatory cytokine can either facilitate cancer progression or function as a potential cancer inhibitor, considering its pro-apoptotic effects.25 These scenarios make it difficult to assign a definitive prognosis to TNF-α. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is cancer.