Epidemiological studies have revealed that chronic inflammation predisposes to different forms of cancer.
Epidemiological studies have revealed that chronic inflammation predisposes to different forms of cancer. Selected extrinsic inflammatory conditions increase the risk of cancer and an inflammatory component is also present also in the microenvironment of tumours epidemiologically unrelated to inflammation. An intrinsic (driven by genetic events that cause neoplasia) and an extrinsic (driven by inflammatory conditions which predispose to cancer) pathway link inflammation and cancer. Smouldering inflammation in the tumour microenvironment contributes to proliferation and survival of malignant cells, angiogenesis, metastasis, subversion of adaptive immunity, response to hormones, and chemotherapeutic agents. continue reading
Ancient Endogenous Retrovirus Genes Might Contribute to Lymphomas; these gene sequences might hold the key to other diseases as well.
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) integrated into human genome after cross-species infectious events millions of years ago. Few of the ERVs retain the basic structure of the integrated proviral form of infectious retroviruses. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent a key molecular link between the host genome and infectious viral particles. continue reading
Stress has a neuro-immuno-endocrine impact.
The brain is the key organ of the response to stress because it determines what is threatening and, therefore, potentially stressful, as well as the physiological and behavioural responses which can be either adaptive or damaging. continue reading
Stress and Cancer; Another Link
Cancer is influenced by its microenvironment, yet broader, environmental effects also play a role but remain poorly defined. Cao et al, report that mice living in an enriched housing environment show reduced tumour growth and increased remission. They found this effect in melanoma and colon cancer models, and that it was not caused by physical activity alone. continue reading
More on Inflammation and Breast Cancer
The expression of transcripts of cytokines of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family has been examined in human breast tumours, breast cancer cell lines, and adipose stromal cells, by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction amplification. continue reading
Inflammation and Depression in Cancer
Several studies have tried to link cytokines, especially IL-6, to depression in patients with and without cancer (Musselman et al 2001; Sluzewska et al 1996). This study (Jehn et al 2010) demonstrates a linear relationship between IL-6 plasma concentrations and level of depressive mood. continue reading