title: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Carcinogenesis of the Gastrointestinal Tract.
abstract: It is estimated that underlying infections and inflammatory responses are linked to 15-20% of all deaths from cancer worldwide. Inflammation is a physiologic process in response to tissue damage resulting from microbial pathogen infection, chemical irritation, and/or wounding. Tissues injured throughout the recruitment of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, generate a great amount of growth factors, cytokines, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that may cause DNA damage that in turn predisposes to the transformation from chronic inflammation to neoplasia. Cyclooxygenase (COX), playing a key role in cell homeostasis, angiogenesis and tumourigenesis, may represent the link between inflammation and cancer. Currently COX is becoming a pharmacological target for cancer prevention and treatment.It is estimated that underlying infections and inflammatory responses are linked to 15-20% of all deaths from cancer worldwide. Inflammation is a physiologic process in response to tissue damage resulting from microbial pathogen infection, chemical irritation, and/or wounding. Tissues injured throughout the recruitment of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, generate a great amount of growth factors, cytokines, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that may cause DNA damage that in turn predisposes to the transformation from chronic inflammation to neoplasia. Cyclooxygenase (COX), playing a key role in cell homeostasis, angiogenesis and tumourigenesis, may represent the link between inflammation and cancer. Currently COX is becoming a pharmacological target for cancer prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. comparedebora@libero.it.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Compare
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. olga.nardone@libero.it.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. nardone@unina.it.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardone
keywords: colorectal cancer; cyclooxygenase-2; esophageal cancer; gastric cancer; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs