INFLAMMATION AND COLON CANCER. MOLECULAR AND IMMUNOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

After the analysis of data presented in the international literature there are still a lot of controversial issues on the impact of inflammation on the development of colon cancer. Molecular mechanisms of various types of colorectal cancer are different and connected with inflammatory bowel diseases. There are some immunological similarities and differences between colitis-associated colon cancer occurring in inflammation and other types of colorectal cancer developing without any signs of inflammatory process. The gut microbiota significantly influences on the development of sporadic colorectal cancer and colitis-associated cancer. Malignant colon tumors, without dependence on the colorectal cancer type, have an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The role of tumor-infiltrating immunocytes and tumor inflammatory microenvironment in colorectal cancer is complex: they are involved in antitumor immune defense and play a pro-oncogenic role. In perspective anti-inflammatory biologic drugs are expected to decrease the risk of the development of colorectal cancer.