Deletion of TNF in Winnie-ApcMin/+ mice reveals its dual role in the onset and progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the best examples depicting the relationship between inflammation and increased cancer risk. The introduction of new therapeutic options targeting the inflammatory mediators has been shown to markedly decrease the overall risk of CRC even though their chemopreventive potential is still under debate [1,2]. Specifically, conflicting reports exist concerning the relationship between Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), and an increased risk of CRC in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). To address the axis between TNF and CRC development and progression, we depleted the Tnf from our previously established murine model of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), the Winnie-ApcMin/+ line. Surprisingly, a detailed histological characterization, demonstrated that the deletion of Tnf in Winnie-ApcMin/+ mice resulted in an initial reduction of dysplastic lesions incidence in 5-week-old mice, followed by faster disease progression with a unique molecular pattern at 8 weeks. Our results highlight that TNF could exert a dual role in CAC supporting the promotion of neoplastic lesions onset at the early stage of the disease and inducing their reduction during disease progression.