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Updated: May 29, 2026

Quantification of Monocyte Transmigration and Foam Cell Formation from Individuals with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
Published on: October 17, 2017
Monocytes link atherosclerosis and cancer
Mikael J Pittet1, Filip K Swirski
1Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. mpittet@mgh.harvard.edu
Abstract:
From many perspectives, cardiovascular diseases and cancers are fundamentally different. On the one hand, atherosclerosis is a disease of lipid accumulation driven by diet and lifestyle, whereas cancer is an attack "from within" driven by mutations. Nevertheless, studies over the past 20 years have forced us to re-evaluate such a view. We are learning that, among other factors, the immune system is indispensable for the development and progression of both diseases. Its components are not only reactive but can also orchestrate both tumor and atherosclerotic lesion growth. In this Viewpoint, we explore how monocytes, which are key constituents of the immune system, forge links between cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
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