Emily Shacter, PhD

We review the evidence implicating a strong association between chronic inflammation and cancer, with an emphasis on colorectal and lung cancer.

A substantial body of evidence supports the conclusion that chronic inflammation can predispose an individual to cancer, as demonstrated by the association between chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and the increased risk of colon carcinoma. Chronic inflammation is caused by a variety of factors, including bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, chemical irritants, and nondigestible particles.