The therapeutic value of targeting inflammation in gastrointestinal cancers

•Inflammation influences numerous gastrointestinal malignancies.•Inflammation controls tumor initiation, promotion, and malignant progression.•Inflammation can be targeted both for tumor prevention and improved therapy.

Inflammation has been implicated in the initiation and progression of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Inflammation also plays important roles in subverting immune tolerance, escape from immune surveillance, and conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Targeting key regulators and mediators of inflammation represents an attractive strategy for GI cancer prevention and treatment. However, the targeting of inflammation in GI cancer is not straightforward and sometimes inflammation may contribute to tumor regression. We discuss the origins and effects of inflammation in GI cancer and how to target it successfully.