Inflammation, Cancer and Chemoresistance: Taking Advantage of the Toll‐Like Receptor Signaling Pathway

The association between chronic inflammation and cancer has long been observed. Furthermore, NF‐ κ B activation and the subsequent production of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and antiapoptotic proteins has been found to be involved in cancer progression and chemoresistance. However, the signals inducing NF‐ κ B in cancer cells are still not well understood. Here, we reviewed the association between chronic inflammation and cancer, the role of NF‐ κ B and its inhibitors as potential anticancer drugs, and Toll‐like receptors as possible signal initiators for NF‐ κ B activation and inflammation‐induced carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, we propose that, the stimulation of Toll‐like receptors by microbial components and/or endogenous ligands may represent the initial signal promoting a proinflammatory environment that will enhance tumor growth and chemoresistance.