Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(9), 11071-11084; doi:10.3390/ijms130911071
Review

The Dual Role of Inflammation in Colon Carcinogenesis

Giovanni Monteleoneemail, Francesco Palloneemail and Carmine Stolfi* email
Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, Rome 00133, Italy
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 1 August 2012; in revised form: 28 August 2012 / Accepted: 28 August 2012 / Published: 6 September 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Oncology)
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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: colitis-associated colon cancer; IBD; ulcerative colitis; AOM + DSS; tumor immunosurveillance; T cells; inflammation; IL-21; IL-6; IL-17

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MDPI and ACS Style

Monteleone, G.; Pallone, F.; Stolfi, C. The Dual Role of Inflammation in Colon Carcinogenesis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 11071-11084.

AMA Style

Monteleone G, Pallone F, Stolfi C. The Dual Role of Inflammation in Colon Carcinogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2012; 13(9):11071-11084.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Monteleone, Giovanni; Pallone, Francesco; Stolfi, Carmine. 2012. "The Dual Role of Inflammation in Colon Carcinogenesis." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, no. 9: 11071-11084.

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