This review is based on a presentation given by Professor MacDonald at the RCPE Palliative Care Symposium on 28 March 2011.
A chronic inflammatory state (CIS) commonly accompanies advanced cancers. Elements of a CIS include aberrant immune system activity and changes in hypothalamic-neuroendocrine control mechanisms. The end result is stimulation of tumour growth and metastases. In addition to tumour stimulation, cancer symptoms may be enhanced. While for most symptoms correlation with a CIS remains tenuous, clearly a CIS is linked to the aetiology of the cancer anorexiacachexia syndrome. To date clinical studies aimed at a CIS are modest, but the increased understanding of the partnership of a CIS, cancer progression and anorexia-cachexia must lead to targeting a CIS in concert with conventional efforts to directly destroy tumour tissue.
Keywords Cancer prognosis, chronic inflammation and cancer, autonomic nervous system changes in cancer
Declaration of Interests No conflict of interests declared.
