Cancer and Inflammation (PDF)

Chronic inflammation predisposes to some forms of cancer and the
host response to malignant disease shows several parallels with
inflammation and wound healing. The cells involved in inflammation
are detected in a range of common cancers, together with the
inflammatory cytokines and members of the chemokine ligand/receptor
systems.

Neutralization or deletion of the gene for some inflammatory
cytokines confers resistance to tumour induction and experimental
metastasis. Over-expression of such cytokines in tumour cells may
enhance malignant potential. Certain chemokines are likely to
subvert antitumour immunity by favouring development of ineffective
Type 2 responses. Tumour cells may even utilize chemokine receptors
in homing to lymph nodes and other organs. Thus, the cells,
cytokines and chemokines found in tumours are more likely to
contribute to tumour growth, progression and immunosuppression than
they are to mount an effective host antitumour response.

This book draws together contributions from an international group
of scientists and clinicians from diverse disciplines, ranging from
epidemiology to immunology, cell biology, molecular oncology,
molecular medicine and pharmacology to debate these and related
issues. Topics covered include the epidemiological links between
cancer and inflammation, the parallels between inflammation and
cancer, the role of inflammation in cancer, inflammatory genes as
risk factors for cancer initiation and progression, inflammation
and cancer angiogenesis, and preventative and therapeutic
strategies.

Related Novartis Foundation symposia:

252 Generation and Effector Functions of Regulatory
Lymphocytes

Chair: Jean-François Bach

254 Immunoinformatics: Bioinformatic Strategies for Better
Understanding of Immune Function

Chair: Hans-Georg Rammensee