Links between cancer and inflammation were first identified almost 200 years ago when it was observed that tumours developed at sites of chronic inflammation and inflammatory cells were found in various tumours. Since this time, and especially recently, several lines of evidence have supported a clear relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer. It is estimated that overall 15-20% of all malignancies worldwide are associated with infection and chronic inflammation. There are many stimuli that cause inflammation and subsequent cancer, such as Helicobacter pylori-related gastric cancer or lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related colorectal cancer (CRC) or chronic prostatitis associated with prostate cancer. Not surprisingly, treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents decreases the incidence of certain cancers such as breast cancer or CRC, not only supporting a role for inflammatory processes in several types of cancer but also showing that anti-inflammatory strategies might prevent the development into cancer as a consequence of chronic inflammation.
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