THE ROLE OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN CARCINOGENESIS: MORPHOLOGICAL, CELLULAR, AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS

Chronic inflammation is considered one of the important factors involved in the development and progression of malignant neoplasms. Prolonged inflammatory stimuli are accompanied by structural tissue damage, disruption of cellular regulatory processes, accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations, and the formation of a specific tumor microenvironment. Unlike a short-term protective inflammatory response, chronic inflammation can create conditions that promote the survival of genetically damaged cells, enhance their proliferation, and contribute to subsequent malignant transformation. This article discusses the main pathomorphological changes associated with chronic inflammation, the role of cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammation-induced carcinogenesis, and the significance of cytokines, oxidative stress, impaired apoptosis, and immune surveillance. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between chronic inflammatory diseases and the development of tumors of the stomach, liver, and intestine.