Cancer Stem Cell & Oncology Research

Inflammation Driven Regulation of Cancer Stem Cells

Inflammatory signaling represents a significant biological influence on cancer stem cell behavior and identity. Chronic inflammation alters tissue homeostasis and creates conditions that favor malignant transformation and stemness maintenance. Inflammatory mediators produced within tumors activate transcriptional programs that promote self renewal and inhibit differentiation. Cancer stem cells respond to these signals by adjusting gene expression patterns associated with survival and proliferation. Persistent inflammatory environments increase genetic instability and epigenetic variability, enhancing cellular diversity. Inflammation also reshapes the tumor microenvironment, reinforcing niche conditions that support stem like populations. Crosstalk between inflammatory signaling and stemness pathways amplifies malignant traits. From a biological standpoint, inflammation acts as a driver of cancer stem cell expansion and functional adaptation. Studying this relationship provides insight into how systemic biological processes influence cellular identity within tumors.