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Interaction Between Crystals, Inflammation, and Cancer

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Cholesterol Crystals in Atherosclerosis and Other Related Diseases

Part of the book series: Contemporary Cardiology ((CONCARD))

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Abstract

The processes that lead to the development and spread of cancer are complex. Although it is thought that chronic inflammation may promote mitogenesis that in turn leads to mutagenesis, the crystals known to cause cancer including silica and calcium oxalate have been demonstrated to directly damage DNA.  Furthermore, while chronic inflammation related to cholesterol crystals can lead to the formation of granuloma, and uric acid (UA) crystals can lead to formation of tophi, neither lesion undergo malignant transformation. Thus, crystal induced cancer and crystal induced inflammation may not be directly related. 

Various crystals do develop de-novo in the tumor microenvironment (TME), as abnormal trafficking of metabolites and cellular necrosis predisposes to the accumulation and crystallization of calcium, cholesterol, and UA. These crystals have the potential to cause direct cellular and tissue trauma and to enhance the pro-inflammatory milieu of the TME and thereby contribute to tumor growth, hemorrhage, and spread.

Although post-hoc analysis of clinical trials and animal studies raise the tantalizing possibility that therapies used for secondary prevention of atherosclerosis including aspirin, lipid lowering therapy, and colchicine may prevent or slow the development of some cancers, current evidence does not support their use, however, ongoing clinical trials are actively investigating this approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Heart and Vascular Research Institute, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia

    Stefan Mark Nidorf

  2. Department of Cardiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Abdallah Almaghraby

  3. Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Yehia Saleh

  4. Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Venkat R. Katkoori

  5. Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Zain ul Abideen

  6. Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Harvey L. Bumpers

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Dorothy R. Pathak

  8. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    George S. Abela

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Correspondence to Stefan Mark Nidorf .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    George S. Abela

  2. The Heart and Vascular Research Institute, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia

    Stefan Mark Nidorf

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Nidorf, S.M. et al. (2023). Interaction Between Crystals, Inflammation, and Cancer. In: Abela, G.S., Nidorf, S.M. (eds) Cholesterol Crystals in Atherosclerosis and Other Related Diseases. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41192-2_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41192-2_22

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