The Inflammation-Mediated Bidirectional Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Review. Population: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and cancer. Intervention: Anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering therapies (statins, colchicine, canakinumab, ziltivekimab) and lifestyle modification.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Chronic inflammation mediates a bidirectional link between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cancer, with targeted anti-inflammatory agents showing potential dual disease modulation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Shahzaib Chughtai; Shofikur Shuhag; Daksh Saksena; Manum Zaman; Muhammad Usman Ghani

doi:10.3390/diseases14070237

July 2, 2026DiseasesOpen Access

The Inflammation-Mediated Bidirectional Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

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Key result

ASCVD is linked to ~13% higher cancer risk via shared chronic inflammatory pathways.

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Why the study?

Cancer and ASCVD are biologically related conditions where chronic inflammation may be a key connecting factor, warranting a review of their bidirectional relationship.

Key Points

To synthesize evidence on the bidirectional relationship between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cancer, highlighting shared inflammatory signaling and potential dual-benefit therapies.
Conducted a systematic literature search across PubMed and Scopus based on a protocol pre-registered on the Open Science Framework.
Synthesized findings from preclinical models, retrospective cohorts, registries, and randomized trials evaluating cardiovascular and oncologic interactions.
Epidemiologic studies report a 13% increased risk of incident cancer in patients with cardiovascular disease compared with those without prior cardiovascular disease, after accounting for traditional risk factors.
Shared inflammatory pathways—including IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, oxidative stress, and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential—contribute to both plaque progression and tumor growth.
Targeted interventions such as statins, colchicine, canakinumab, and IL-6 inhibitors demonstrate potential dual-disease benefits, though randomized trials with dual cardiovascular and oncologic primary endpoints remain lacking.

Structured PICO

P

Population

Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), cancer patients, and cancer survivors studied in English-language clinical and preclinical literature published from 2010 onward.

I

Intervention

Shared pathway modulation including statins, colchicine, canakinumab (IL-1β inhibition), ziltivekimab (IL-6 inhibition), spironolactone, and anti-inflammatory lifestyle modifications (Mediterranean diet, physical activity, smoking cessation).

Limitations

Utilizes evidence from varying levels of reliability without formal risk-of-bias assessment due to narrative review design
Much of the available evidence linking ASCVD and cancer is observational, limiting definitive causal inference
Mechanistic data are largely derived from animal models or translational studies, decreasing direct applicability to human biology
Underrepresentation of sex, race, and ethnicity-specific variables in many cohorts limits external validity
Dearth of long-term prospective trials with dual prespecified cardiovascular and oncologic primary endpoints
Narrative review design without formal risk-of-bias assessment
Much of the evidence linking ASCVD and cancer is observational, limiting definitive causal inference
Mechanistic data are largely based on animal models or preclinical translational studies
Sex, race, and ethnicity-specific variables are underrepresented in many cohorts
Lack of long-term prospective trials with dual cardiovascular and oncologic primary endpoints

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Implication

This narrative review synthesizes the shared inflammatory, oxidative, and genetic pathways (including NF-κB, IL-1β/IL-6, CHIP, and cardiac secretomes) linking ASCVD and cancer, highlighting the need for future biomarker-guided trials with dual cardiovascular and oncologic endpoints.

Abstract

Cancer and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) represent two of the leading causes of death worldwide. Increasingly, these two are being recognized as biologically related conditions rather than entirely segregated disease states. In addition to traditional risk factors such as aging, smoking, and obesity, chronic inflammation may be a key factor connecting the two illnesses. Endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, plaque progression, and thrombosis are all facilitated by inflammatory signaling in ASCVD. Similar pathways are known to contribute to cancer growth and invasion. Emerging epidemiologic data demonstrate increased cancer incidence among patients with cardiovascular disease, while cancer survivors and recipients of cardiotoxic therapies exhibit accelerated vascular disease. This narrative review aims to describe the bidirectional relationship between ASCVD and cancer. Targeting shared pathways using statins, colchicine, canakinumab, IL-6 inhibition, and lifestyle modification may provide dual benefits. Future biomarker-guided trials with integrated cardiovascular and oncologic endpoints are needed to clarify causality and optimize prevention and management.

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Cite This Study

Chughtai et al. (2026) conducted a review in Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and cancer. Anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering therapies (statins, colchicine, canakinumab, ziltivekimab) and lifestyle modification was evaluated. Chronic inflammation mediates a bidirectional link between ASCVD and cancer, with targeted anti-inflammatory agents showing promise for dual disease modulation.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a48a4c689561a0c2d78ddb6 https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14070237

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The Inflammation-Mediated Bidirectional Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

The Inflammation-Mediated Bidirectional Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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