Question ID: WS-31
Submitted by: Jill Koshiol
February 4, 2011
Question: How can we better understand the role of immune response in cancer etiology and prognosis? (Jill Koshiol; Ligia Pinto; Ann Hsing; Nat Rothman; Qing Lan; Mark Purdue) Background: A number of studies have found that chronic inflammation is associated with tumor development and progression, as demonstrated by infectious conditions, such as Helicobacter pylori infection increasing risk of gastric cancer; and autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and Sjögren's syndrome increasing risk of colon cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The association between inflammation and cancer is complex, however, with some immune responses contributing to tumorigenesis, while others inhibit tumor growth. Feasibility: The availability of large, carefully collected biological specimens combined with high-quality clinical data in a large number of high quality prospective cohort studies and the availability of validated high throughput multiplex technologies and robust immunohistochemistry markers will contribute to clarifying the role of immune response in cancer etiology and tumor prognosis, especially for tumor models with known precursors (e.g., gastric cancer, cervical cancer, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphcytic leukemia). For example, several studies have already identified serum cytokine and related biomarkers that are associated with increased risk of lymphoma for 6-10 years before disease occurs. Implications of success: A better understanding of the pro- and anti-tumorigenic patterns of immune cell infiltration and cytokine expression involved in cancer development and progression in the general, immunocompetent population may help identify biomarkers important for early steps in cancer etiology and progression from pre-cancerous conditions, as well as identifying potential targets for cancer treatment and sub-populations of patients who may need more aggressive therapy.
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