Model organisms in inflammation and cancer

Inflammation and cancer are two types of perturbations of organismal homeostasis that have been largely studied apart up until recently. Nowadays, it becomes increasingly clear that inflammatory responses to microbial and damaged-host stimuli facilitate tumorigenesis and cancer. Both arms of immunity, innate and adaptive, are playing a role in promoting cancer. Undoubtedly, many microbial species, well-known and opportunistic pathogens and possibly beneficial commensals, contribute to inflammation and cancer predisposition. Indeed, their influence on chronic disease is sometimes difficult to discern, especially in the context of polymicrobial communities. In this light, model organisms provide important insights into immune and growth signals that promote cancer, and suggest therapies that will selectively target harmful microbes or modulate host responses. A number of manuscripts in this series will address novel aspects and paradigms of microbiome-immunity-epithelial cell interaction that lead to carcinogenesis.