Inflammation and cancer: a double-edged sword.
Recent literature has highlighted an important role of inflammation in promoting cancer. However, the immune system can also play a central role in protecting the body against cancer as well as infection, although its role in cancer is not well understood. A study published in the September issue of Nature Medicine adds a new twist to the role of inflammation in cancer. Apetoh et al. describe how activation of innate immunity after conventional radiation or chemotherapy can trigger protective antitumor immunity.
Hagemann
Thorsten
T
Centre for Translational Oncology, Institute of Cancer and CR-UK Clinical Centre, Barts and The London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK. t.hagemann@qmul.ac.uk
Balkwill
Frances
F
Lawrence
Toby
T
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016923:Cell Death; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4