Inflammation: A driving force speeds cancer metastasis
Open accessAbstract
It has been increasingly recognized that tumor microenvironment plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Inflammatory component is present and contributes to tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and resistance to hormonal and chemotherapy. This review highlights the role of inflammation in the tumor metastasis. We focus on the function of proinflammatory factors, particularly cytokines during tumor metastasis. Understanding of the mechanisms by which inflammation contributes to metastasis will lead to innovative approach for treating cancer. How tumor spread remains an enigma and has received great attention in recent years, as metastasis is the major cause of cancer mortality. The complex and highly selective metastatic cascade not only depends on the intrinsic properties of tumor cells but also the microenvironment that they derive from. An inflammatory milieu consisting of infiltrated immune cells and their secretory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors contribute significantly to the invasive and metastatic traits of cancer cells. Here, we review new insights into the molecular pathways that link inflammation in the tumor microenvironment to metastasis.
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Inflammation is critically implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of numerous diseases.
“Inflammation, as a basic pathological process, is critically implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of numerous diseases.”
From Picroside II as a Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agent (2026) · cites this paper as [2]
The “Cancer and chronic inflammation” section links chronic inflammation to cancer development and describes its role in tumor growth and metastasis. The paper supports the claim for cancer, including several cancer types, but does not establish the broader claim about numerous diseases. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 89 · Cited by 327
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- Authors
- Wu, Y., & Zhou, B. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zhou, Binhua P.
- Venue
- Cell Cycle
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-10-15
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 20
- Pages
- 3267-3273
- ISSN
- 1538-4101 (ISSN-L)
- 1551-4005
- PMC
- PMC3702728
- OpenAlex
- W2089148552
- Cited by
- 327
- References
- 89
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 1.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cell Cycle (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ca125454-10)
- National Cancer Institute (R01-CA125454)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Chemokine receptors and signaling
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Keywords
- inflammation, metastasis, tumor microenvironment, cytokines, chemokines, pro-inflammatory factors, tumor immune cells, tumor invasion, metastatic cascade, chemoresistance, angiogenesis
- MeSH terms
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Inflammation, Neoplasm Metastasis, Signal Transduction, Cytokines, NF-kappa B, STAT Transcription Factors
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