Examining the Potential Role of Chronic Inflammatory Processes in Breast Cancer Development

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A notable cause of a range of cancers is chronic inflammation that may ultimately influence outcomes, yet it remains unclear what role it plays in the initiation and development of breast cancer. To determine whether chronic inflammatory processes are present in normal breast tissue in women, and to examine the potential role of chronic inflammatory processes, a survey of literature was conducted. Breast cancer development appears to be associated with several chronic inflammatory factors that occur early in breast carcinogenesis, including the accumulation of adipose tissue and increasing obesity. Other factors such as the microbiome and inflammation from genomic changes may occur later in the process.

Chronic inflammation is a critical risk factor for breast cancer development and may influence progression of the disease.

Chronic inflammation is a key component of the development of breast cancer, and the transformation of a range of malignancies. It is therefore important to recognize how, from normal tissue, the breast cancer growth is initiated, develops, and is altered by chronic inflammation. Investigators have analyzed how chronic inflammatory processes in normal breast tissue at risk for breast cancer and in breast cancer differ. Findings suggested that inflammatory changes pose as important variables that are associated with breast cancer risk in healthy normal breast tissue. While infiltrating lymphocytes are infrequent in healthy normal breast tissue, there are cellular changes, genomic abnormalities, and microbiome alterations that have the potential ability to provoke inflammatory changes. Current literature indicates that breast cancer’s initiation, progression, and behavior may be affected by chronic inflammation, yet in breast tissue different chronic inflammation processes may occur, subsequently impacting breast carcinogenesis.

Source:

Danforth DN. The role of chronic inflammation in the development of breast cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13:3918.

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