title: Curbing tumorigenesis and malignant progression through the pharmacological control of the wound healing process.
abstract: The prevention of cancer development and its progression is an urgent unmet medical need. Novel knowledge on the biology of cancer has evidenced that genetic changes occurring within cancer cells contribute, but are not sufficient, for tumor promotion and progression. The results of clinical studies and experimental animal models have suggested pursuing new avenues for the prevention of cancer development in the early stages, by using drugs that modulate platelet responses and those interfering with the synthesis and action of the mediators of inflammation. In fact, malignant tumors often develop at sites of chronic injury associated with platelet activation and chronic inflammation. In this review, we cover the evidence supporting this hypothesis and the rationale for the pharmacological treatment with antiplatelet agents, including low-dose aspirin, and antiinflammatory drugs to curb tumorigenesis and malignant progression. The evidence for a chemopreventive effect of low-dose aspirin against colorectal cancer (CRC) has been recently found appropriate by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which recommends the use of the drug for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and CRC.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular and Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy; CeSI-MeT (Centro Scienze dell'Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale), "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dovizio
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular and Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy; CeSI-MeT (Centro Scienze dell'Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale), "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular and Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy; CeSI-MeT (Centro Scienze dell'Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale), "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: ppatrignani@unich.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patrignani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: Anti-inflammatory agents; Antiplatelet agents; Chronic inflammation; Platelets; Tumorigenesis