Inflammation and Cancer

Virchow (1864) observed that tumor stroma is frequently invaded by inflammatory cells and proposed a relationship between inflammation and cancer for the first time. Inflammation is a normal physiological response that promotes the healing of wounded tissue. When damaged tissue releases chemicals, an inflammatory process begins. Inflammation also defends us from infections (like bacteria and viruses) through WBCs and their compounds. Inflammation is a long-evolved process involving innate and adaptive immune cells’ activation, recruitment, and action. Initially emphasized for its involvement in host defense against pathogens, inflammation is crucial for tissue repair, regeneration, and remodeling, and subtle inflammation types are required for tissue homeostasis management. Cancer may originate from DNA damage caused by the systemic inflammatory response. Cancer is a highly troublesome deadliest disease. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are tumor-initiating cells that play a role in tumor heterogeneity and stasis. Drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence of primary and metastatic malignancies can all be caused by CSCs. Survival dysregulation and crosstalk with other cellular pathways may be alternatives for effective therapy. Different factors including smoking, tobacco, and excessive alcohol consumption increase cancer risk and stimulate malignant progression.