Szlosarek Peter, Charles Kellie A, Balkwill Frances R
Centre for Translational Oncology, Institute of Cancer and the CR-UK Clinical Centre, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
Eur J Cancer. 2006 Apr;42(6):745-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2006.01.012. Epub 2006 Mar 6.
It is becoming more evident that many aspects of tumour promotion arise from persistent and unresolving inflammation. One of the key molecules mediating the inflammatory processes in tumour promotion is the cytokine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Clinically, elevated serum concentrations and increased expression of TNF-alpha are present in various pre-neoplastic and malignant diseases, compared with serum and tissue from healthy individuals. Although over the last few decades high-dose administration of TNF-alpha has been used as a cytotoxic agent, recent pre-clinical cancer models have provided critical evidence to support the link between chronic, low level TNF-alpha exposure and the acquisition of pro-malignant phenotype (i.e., increased growth, invasion and metastasis). Furthermore, sophisticated cellular systems are being utilised to dissect the crucial role TNF-alpha plays in the communication of stromal/inflammatory cells and tumour cells. Understanding the intricate roles of TNF-alpha in the process of tumour promotion will assist in the development of novel cancer therapeutics.
越来越明显的是，肿瘤促进的许多方面源于持续且未解决的炎症。介导肿瘤促进中炎症过程的关键分子之一是细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）。临床上，与健康个体的血清和组织相比，各种癌前和恶性疾病中均存在血清TNF-α浓度升高和表达增加的情况。尽管在过去几十年中，高剂量施用TNF-α一直被用作细胞毒性剂，但最近的临床前癌症模型提供了关键证据，支持慢性、低水平TNF-α暴露与获得促恶性表型（即生长、侵袭和转移增加）之间的联系。此外，正在利用复杂的细胞系统来剖析TNF-α在基质/炎症细胞与肿瘤细胞通讯中所起的关键作用。了解TNF-α在肿瘤促进过程中的复杂作用将有助于开发新型癌症治疗方法。
