Links between Infections, Lung Cancer, and the Immune System

Liviuta Budisan, Oana Zanoaga, Cornelia Braicu, Radu Pirlog, Bogdan Covaliu, Victor Esanu, Schuyler S. Korban, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading disease of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Since the beginning of the 20th century, various infectious agents associated with lung cancer have been identified. The mechanisms that include systemic inflammatory pathways as effect of microbial persistence in the lung can secondarily promote the development of lung carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation associated with lung-cancer infections is known to precede tumor development, and it has a strong effect on the response(s) to therapy. In fact, both viral and bacterial infections can activate inflammatory cells and inflammatory signaling pathways. In this review, an overview of critical findings of recent studies investigating associations between each of viral and bacterial pathogens and lung carcinoma is provided, with particular emphasis on how infectious organisms can interfere with oncogenic processes and all the way through immunity. Moreover, a discussion of the direct crosstalk between lung tumor development and inflammatory processes is also presented.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number9394
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume22
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2021

Keywords

  • virus
  • immune system
  • lung cancer
  • bacteria
  • Virus
  • Lung cancer
  • Bacteria
  • Immune system

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Spectroscopy
  • Catalysis
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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