Aberrant expression of maspin in idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease is associated with disease activity and neoplastic transformation

Background. Maspin is both overexpressed in tumors and inflammation, implicating a possible role in bridging inflammation and neoplasia. Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and IBD-associated dysplasias and carcinomas represent a prototype for studying the relationship between chronic inflammatory states and neoplasia.