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Abstract
Several experimental and epidemiological evidence indicate that, irrespective of the
trigger for the development (chronic infection/inflammation or genetic alteration),
a "smouldering" inflammation is associated with the most of, if not all, tumours and
supports their progression. Several evidence have highlighted that tumours promote
a constant influx of myelomonocytic cells that express inflammatory mediators supporting
pro-tumoral functions. Myelomonocytic cells are key orchestrators of cancer-related
inflammation associated with proliferation and survival of malignant cells, subversion
of adaptive immune response, angiogenesis, stroma remodelling and metastasis formation.
Although the connection between inflammation and cancer is unequivocal the mechanistic
basis of such association are largely unknown. Recent advances in the understanding
of the cellular and molecular pathways involved in cancer-related inflammation as
well as their potential relevance as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets
are herein discussed.