Inflammation and prostate cancer: Biological implications and clinical usefulness

Abstract

Worldwide, prostate cancer is the non-cutaneous neoplasm that most frequently affects men. Recent evidence demonstrates a role for chronic inflammation in the development of different cancer types in humans, including prostate cancer. This association was suggested long ago by the observation of inflammatory infiltrates in tissue samples from patients with prostate cancer. More recently it has been supported by high levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum of patients with this disease. Multiple studies have found association between certain single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with inflammation, and the risk of developing prostate cancer. In the last few years, the effects of inflammatory molecules on the behavior of this disease have been described; among them, the potential to induce cancer cell proliferation and dedifferentiation of stromal cells. The influence of inflammation in the development and progression of prostatic cancer has become a topic of interest because of the potential use in diagnosis and therapy. It is expected that a better biological understanding of the mechanisms underlying this association may lead to a practical exploitation of its clinical usefulness.