Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Cancer Therapy

TLDR

Inflammation is closely linked to cancer, increasing risk for various cancers, and eliminating inflammation is a promising strategy for prevention and therapy, especially when combined with conventional treatments. The article investigates the epidemiological link between inflammation and cancer, reviews current anti‑inflammatory agents used for prevention and therapy, and outlines future research directions. It explains how anti‑inflammatory agents exert anti‑cancer effects through modulation of inflammatory pathways and immune responses.

Abstract

Inflammation is closely linked to cancer, and many anti-cancer agents are also used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, chronic inflammation increases the risk for various cancers, indicating that eliminating inflammation may represent a valid strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. This article explores the relationship between inflammation and cancer with an emphasis on epidemiological evidence, summarizes the current use of anti-inflammatory agents for cancer prevention and therapy, and describes the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of anti-inflammatory agents. Since monotherapy is generally insufficient for treating cancer, the combined use of anti-inflammatory agents and conventional cancer therapy is also a focal point in discussion. In addition, we also briefly describe future directions that should be explored for anti-cancer anti-inflammatory agents.