Role of mast cells in colorectal cancer development, the jury is still out

J. Heijmans, N. V. Büller, V. Muncan, G. R. van den Brink

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The link between inflammation and colorectal cancer development is becoming increasingly clear. It had long been recognized that patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at an increased risk of colon cancer. Evidence from experimental animals now also implicates the innate immune system in the development of sporadically occurring intestinal adenomas, the precursors to colorectal cancer. Here we discuss the interaction between the immune system and the adenoma to carcinoma sequence with a special emphasis on the role of mast cells which may play a key role in adenoma development. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mast cells in inflammation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9-13
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Basis of Disease
Volume1822
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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