Tumor promoters: from chemicals to inflammatory proteins

The classic two-stage chemical carcinogenesis in rodents is not directly linked to multistage carcinogenesis in humans. In light of our findings that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an endogenous tumor promoter and that TNF-α-inducing protein (Tipα) of Helicobacter pylori stimulates progression of cancer and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, we think it is necessary to re-examine the concept of tumor promoter, from chemicals to inflammatory proteins.

This paper begins with "inflammation," discovered by Virchow, studies of Yamagiwa and Tsutsui, and briefly reviews numerous topics, such as (1) the classic concept of tumor promoter, (2) tumor promotion on mouse skin induced by protein kinase C activators and okadaic acid class compounds, (3) organ specificity of tumor promoters, presenting numerous tumor promoters in various organs, (4) unique tumor promotion induced by inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A in mouse skin, rat glandular stomach, and rat liver, (5) the significant role of TNF-α in tumor-promoting inflammation, (6) progression induced by Tipα of H. pylori, and (7) enhancement of cancer treatment efficacy with the combination of anticancer drugs and green tea catechins, to inhibit tumor-promoting inflammation.

Human cancer development involves both durable genetic changes caused by carcinogens and proinflammatory cytokines, and simultaneous inflammation in progression induced by proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.