Chronic infection, inflammation and cancer

Leucocytes and other phagocytic cells combat bacteria, parasites, and virus-infected cells by destroying them with NO, O2. H2O2 a powerful oxidant mixture. These oxidants protect humans from immediate death from infection, but cause oxidative damage to DNA and mutation thereby contributing to the carcinogenic process.

Antioxidants appear to inhibit some of the pathology of chronic inflammation

Chronic infections contribute to about one-third of the world's cancer. Hepatitis B and C viruses infect about 500 million people, mainly in Asia and Africa, and are a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Another major Chronic infections is schistosomiasis, which is caused by a parasitic worm that is widespread in China and Egypt. The Chinese worm lays its eggs in the colon, producing inflammation that often leads to colon cancer. The Egyptian worm lays eggs in the bladder, promoting bladder cancer.

Opisthorchis viverrini and Chlonorchis sinensis are liver flukes that infect millions of people in China, Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia. These worms cause chronic inflammation of the biliary tract and markedly increase the risk for developing cholangiocarcinoma.

Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which infect the stomachs of over one-third the world population, appear to be the major cause of stomach cancer, ulcers, and gastritis.

In wealthy countries the disease is usually asymptomatic, which indicates that the effects of inflammation are at least partially suppressed, possibly in part, by adequate levels of dietary Antioxidants.

chronic inflammation resulting from noninfectious sources also to various pathological conditions leading to cancer. For example, chronic inflammation due to asbestos exposure may be in good part the reason it is a significant risk factor for cancer of the lung.

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