Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1: Possible Bridge Molecule of Inflammation and Prostate Cancer

There is emerging evidence that inflammation may lead to prostate cancer development. Although inflammation is an essential response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation is harmful and causes tissue damage. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation leads to the development of epithelial cancers; however, studies on inflammation-targeted genes that might contribute to the development of cancer are at the beginning stage. Here, we describe macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1, which provides a potential link between inflammation and prostate cancer. Understanding the regulation of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 in response to inflammation may have potential for novel therapeutic strategies. [Cancer Res 2009;69(1):2-5]