Inflammation and Cancer: From Defense to Disease
By Dr. Katrin Ericson
Key Points
Inflammation is a powerful biological process, essential for healing, but dangerous when left unchecked.
Whether driven by age, lifestyle, genetics, or disease, chronic inflammation is now recognized as a central player in cancer biology.
For people with conditions like RUNX1-FPD, gaining insight into the role of inflammation could be key to unlocking new strategies for cancer prevention.
The Link Between Chronic Inflammation and Cancer
A growing body of research has shown a consistent connection between chronic inflammation and the development of cancer. In fact, it’s estimated that 15% to 25% of all cancers are linked to underlying chronic inflammatory conditions. You can think of chronic inflammation like a fire alarm that keeps blaring, even after the fire is put out. Over time, this sustained immune activity can damage DNA, encourage cells to grow and divide more rapidly, and create a physiological environment that supports cancer development.
The link between chronic inflammation and cancer is no longer a theory. There’s clear evidence to support the association, like in the case of inflammatory bowel disease, which increases the risk of colon cancer, and chronic hepatitis (inflammation in the liver), which increases the risk of liver cancer. While the causes and types of cancer differ, the pattern is the same: inflammation that does not resolve is like adding fuel to a smoldering ember, helping it turn into a hot blaze that spreads faster.
Inflammation: A Necessary Defense with a Dark Side
It’s important to remember that inflammation itself isn’t the enemy. In fact, it’s one of the body’s most essential tools for healing and protection. When we get injured or infected, inflammation kicks in to fight off harmful pathogens (e.g., bacteria and viruses) and repairs damaged tissue.
But like any powerful tool, inflammation can cause harm when it's not well controlled. When the immune system remains in a constant state of alert, even in the absence of a clear threat, the inflammatory response processes (e.g., release of pro-inflammatory cytokines) begin to do more harm than good. This kind of dysregulated, low-grade inflammation can simmer under the surface for years, quietly increasing the risk of diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
What Leads to Chronic Inflammation?
There isn’t just one path to chronic inflammation, it’s a convergence of many factors that can tip the immune system out of balance. Aging is one of the biggest contributors. As we get older, our immune system undergoes changes that can lead to a state known as “inflammaging,” persistent, low-level inflammation that contributes to many age-related conditions.
Diet plays a major role, too. Highly processed foods, excess sugar, and unhealthy fats can fuel inflammatory pathways, while anti-inflammatory diets rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains can help restore balance. Chronic psychological stress and lack of physical activity can also push the immune system toward a pro-inflammatory state. And for some individuals, genetics or existing medical conditions make the body more prone to these feedback loops, where inflammation causes more immune activation, which causes more inflammation, like a snowball rolling downhill.
Once inflammation begins to spiral out of control, it can quietly alter how our immune system functions and, in some cases, lay the groundwork for cancer to take hold.
RUNX1-FPD: A Rare Disease with Clues About Inflammation and Cancer Risk
RUNX1 Familial Platelet Disorder (RUNX1-FPD) is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the RUNX1 gene. People with RUNX1-FPD are born with a higher lifetime risk of developing blood cancers like leukemia. But not everyone with this condition develops cancer, raising the question: What additional factors contribute to disease progression?
Increasingly, researchers are examining inflammation as a key component of the puzzle. Individuals with RUNX1-FPD often show signs of immune dysregulation, with 93% of patients in the NIH clinical study having allergy/immunology symptoms.
Additionally, analyses of RUNX1-FPD bone marrow samples have revealed signs of chronic inflammatory signaling, with many inflammatory molecules appearing to be elevated above normal levels. These findings suggest that ongoing, unresolved inflammation in the bone marrow may act as a fuel source for pre-cancerous blood cells to turn into full-blown blood cancer.
By better understanding how inflammation contributes to disease in RUNX1-FPD, researchers hope to identify strategies to intercept cancer before it starts, whether by targeting inflammatory pathways directly (e.g., Dr. Lucio Castilla’s research), or improving immune regulation (e.g., sirolimus pilot study), or supporting healthier environments for blood cells to develop.
About the Author
Dr. Katrin Ericson is the Executive Director of the RUNX1 Research Program, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision and guides its research funding priorities. She brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and leadership experience from both nonprofit and industry settings, with a career spanning drug development, research funding, and academic discovery. She is deeply committed to ensuring that scientific progress directly benefits families affected by RUNX1-FPD.