Studies have shown that inflammation is a critical component at all three stages of tumor development: initiation, progression, and metastasis. Inflammation triggers cancer by inducing the release of free radicals—toxic molecules that can damage cells, especially cellular DNA. This type of DNA damage or oxidative damage can cause genetic alterations or mutations that lead to the uncontrolled cell division that is typical of cancer.

Chronic Inflammation is the Fuel for Cancer Growth

Inflammation also plays a key role in tumor promotion caused by the survival and expansion of premalignant cells. Many inflammatory mediators act as a tumor promoter, stimulating the proliferation of both untransformed and tumor cells. Tumor cells also produce various substances that attract inflammatory cells.

Once inflammatory cells gain access to the tumor, they become sources of cytokines, proteases, and growth factors, which cause tissue disruption and metastasis, two major processes of cancer progression. As some researchers have described, genetic damage is the match that lights the fire, and inflammation is the fuel that feeds it.

Chronic Inflammation is Linked with Cachexia and Poor Survival

Cancer cachexia, usually present in malignancy and end-stage cancer, is linked to more than 20% cancer deaths. A majority of cancer patients suffer progressive loss of body weight due to loss of fat and skeletal muscle and therefore a shorter survival time. Response to treatment is poor in cancer patients with cachexia.

Now there is proof that cancer cachexia is linked with a systemic inflammation. There are high levels of inflammatory markers like C Reactive Protein (CRP) in cachexia and the magnitude of this level determines the survival rate in cancer patients.

The systemic inflammation also has prognostic value in cancer of the pancreas, renal, urinary bladder, non-small cell lung, colorectal, and gastroesophageal cancers. The use of anti-inflammatory agents helps cancer patients enjoy a better quality of life with reduced weight loss and better performance.

Chronic Inflammation – The New Focus for Cancer Treatment

The importance of inflammation has already led to clinical trials of anti-inflammatory cancer therapies. The prognosis is that anti-inflammatory drugs would prevent premalignant cells from turning fully cancerous or would slow down the process of an existing tumor from spreading to distant sites in the body.

The results from clinical studies using NSAIDs show that people who regularly take NSAIDs have a lower risk of developing cancer than people who don’t take the drugs. But this is not the ideal treatment for cancer as NSAIDS have their own serious side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. Recent studies also suggest that treatments with selective COX-2 inhibitors are associated with increased risks for severe cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.