Tissue Recovery

Where Recommendations are Based on Scientific Evidence  

Nature. 2002 Dec 19-26;420(6917):860-7

Inflammation and cancer.

Coussens LM, Werb Z.

Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. coussens@cc.ucsf.edu

Recent data have expanded the concept that inflammation is a critical component of tumour progression. Many cancers arise from sites of infection, chronic irritation and inflammation. It is now becoming clear that the tumour microenvironment, which is largely orchestrated by inflammatory cells, is an indispensable participant in the neoplastic process, fostering proliferation, survival and migration. In addition, tumour cells have co-opted some of the signalling molecules of the innate immune system, such as selectins, chemokines and their receptors for invasion, migration and metastasis. These insights are fostering new anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches to cancer development.

PMID: 12490959 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]