Physical and chemical insults induce inflammation and gastrointestinal cancers

• Chemical and physical insults can promote GI cancers by inducing inflammation.
• The mechanisms by which these insults promoting tumour formation through tissue inflammation await characterisation.
• Excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, exposure to toxins and heat are the major insults.

Chronic inflammation associated with viral and bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and liver renders these organs susceptible to tumour development. There is also a growing body of evidence demonstrating that chemical and physical insults promote GI cancers by inducing inflammation. For example, excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking induces inflammation and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Likewise, drinking hot beverages and intentional or accidental exposure to toxic substances leads to inflammation and GI cancer formation. However, further work needs to be undertaken using animal models to separate the direct carcinogenic effects of physical and chemical insults from the indirect effects of these insults to promote tumor formation through tissue inflammation.