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Review
. 2012;13(9):11071-11084.
doi: 10.3390/ijms130911071. Epub 2012 Sep 6.

The dual role of inflammation in colon carcinogenesis

Giovanni Monteleone  1 , Francesco Pallone  1 , Carmine Stolfi  1
Affiliations
Review

The dual role of inflammation in colon carcinogenesis

Giovanni Monteleone et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2012.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation characterizing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a major risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Mechanisms underlying this neoplastic transformation are not fully understood though studies in experimental models of colon carcinogenesis suggest that inflammatory cell-derived cytokines either directly or indirectly stimulate the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Nevertheless, under specific inflammatory conditions, immune cells can boost an anti-tumor immune response with the down-stream effect of eliminating dysplastic and cancerous cells. This review outlines the beneficial and detrimental role of inflammation in colon carcinogenesis.

Keywords: AOM + DSS; IBD; IL-17; IL-21; IL-6; T cells; colitis-associated colon cancer; inflammation; tumor immunosurveillance; ulcerative colitis.

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