Chronic inflammatory states: their relationship to cancer prognosis and symptoms

Abstract

A chronic inflammatory state (CIS) commonly accompanies advanced cancers. Elements of a CIS include aberrant immune system activity and changes in hypothalamic-neuroendocrine control mechanisms. The end result is stimulation of tumour growth and metastases. In addition to tumour stimulation, cancer symptoms may be enhanced. While for most symptoms correlation with a CIS remains tenuous, clearly a CIS is linked to the aetiology of the cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. To date clinical studies aimed at a CIS are modest, but the increased understanding of the partnership of a CIS, cancer progression and anorexia-cachexia must lead to targeting a CIS in concert with conventional efforts to directly destroy tumour tissue.