Insight in inflammation and cancer

Inflammation starts whenever antigens trigger molecules and cells of the immune system causing them to move to the affected site. This forms part of the body's response to internal and external environmental stimuli that normally eliminate the offending organism or cells and restore the tissue physiology. We have previously shown that chronic inflammation may lead to prostate carcinogenesis in both animal and human models. Substantial data has shown that over 25 % of all cancer cases are related to chronic inflammation, and other types of unresolved inflammatory processes. Further evidence for this relationship is the fact that prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been associated with reduced risk to developing many types of cancers. Here we review current available internationally published papers in view of several reports on inflammation and cancer progression and draw a synthesis to provide a concise insight to the emerging field of inflammation and cancer. In particular, the molecular mechanisms underlying the concept of inflammation-mediated cancer development, progression, invasion and metastasis was discussed in detail. Indeed, we provide details to allow readers understand the very new concept that underpin the dual host-protective and tumor-promoting actions of cancer immunoediting and present substantial scientific data that strongly suggest that inflammatory markers might be potent molecular targets for cancer diagnosis, treatment, monitoring an