Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of cancer

The scientific community already knows the answer to the question of the relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer. Experts from the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IMG) have confirmed that inflammation acts as a driving force in the development of the disease. They also want to identify the molecular mechanism behind the negative impact of chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of many diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and rheumatoid arthritis. Although a large percentage of the population suffers from it, it has not yet been understood how it influences disease development. Inflammation is a process that can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the human body.

“Only recently has the effect of chronic inflammation on the development of cancer been investigated. The main question was whether inflammation is a consequence or one of the causes of the development of the disease,” explains Meritxell Alberich Jorda from the haemato-oncology department of the IMG

Experts have now confirmed in mouse models that chronic inflammation plays a key role in the development of cancer. The results of the research team show that when combined with other genetic changes, inflammation accelerates cancer progression. The project lasted approximately four years and the results were published in the prestigious journal Experimental Haematology.

“In future projects, we need to determine the molecular mechanism behind the negative impact of chronic inflammation on cancer development, especially leukaemia,” said Monika Burocziová, a scientist at the IMG who led the research.

These discoveries are still in their early stages, but could open up the possibility of exploring other treatment strategies in the future.

Publication

Burocziova M, Grusanovic S, Vanickova K, Kosanovic S, Alberich-Jorda M: Chronic Inflammation Promotes Cancer Progression as a Second hit. Exp Hematol 2023. [pubmed] [doi]

More information

Meritxell Alberich Jordà, Ph.D.

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