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Review
. 2021 Dec 12;13(24):6237.
doi: 10.3390/cancers13246237.

The Complex Network between Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Rossana Percario  1 , Paolo Panaccio  1 , Fabio Francesco di Mola  2 , Tommaso Grottola  2 , Pierluigi Di Sebastiano  2   3
Affiliations
Review

The Complex Network between Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Rossana Percario et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: colorectal cancer (CRC) has a multifactorial etiology which comprises microbiota, genetic predisposition, diet, environmental factors, and last but not least, a substantial contribution by inflammation. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding the strong link between inflammation and colorectal cancer.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature on PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Cochrane and EMBase databases was performed, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Each paper was reviewed by two groups of researchers in a single-blind format by using a pre-planned Microsoft© Excel® grid.

Results: Using automated research filters, 14,566 studies were included, but 1% was found significant by the reviewers. Seventy pathways of inflammation were described in the sequence of inflammation-carcinogenesis, and anti-tumorigenic molecules were also found.

Conclusion: several studies suggest a strong role of inflammation in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer through different pathways: this may have a diagnostic and clinical role and also therapeutic purpose in preventing carcinogenesis by treating inflammation. In vitro tests support this theory, even if many other clinical trials are necessary. The present paper was registered in the OpenScience Framework registry (Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/2KG7T).

Keywords: PRISMA statement guidelines; chronic inflammation; colorectal cancer; inflammatory bowel diseases; molecular pathways; tumorigenesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA® Flow diagram for new systematic reviews, which included searches of databases and registers [3].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Principal pathways. Green arrows: activating/enhancing action. Red arrows: deactivating/suppressing action.
Figure 3
Figure 3
How inflammation induces CAC. Green arrows: activating/enhancing action. Red arrows: deactivating/suppressing action.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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