Targeting Inflammation in Cancer Therapy: Emerging Clinical Strategies and Biomarker Integration

Abstract

Background: Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of cancer and plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. The tumor microenvironment is heavily influenced by inflammatory mediators, making inflammation a critical therapeutic target. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate emerging clinical strategies targeting inflammation in cancer therapy and the integration of inflammatory biomarkers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in prognostic and therapeutic decision-making. Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2020–2025) was conducted. Studies evaluating inflammation-targeted therapies and inflammatory biomarkers in cancer were included. Results: A total of 72 studies met inclusion criteria. Evidence indicates that targeting inflammatory pathways (e.g., cytokines, immune checkpoints, and tumor-associated immune cells) significantly improves treatment outcomes. Biomarkers such as NLR demonstrate strong prognostic value and predictive potential for tresponse. Conclusion: Integration of inflammation-targeted therapies with biomarker-driven approaches represents a promising direction in precision oncology. Standardization and large-scale validation remain necessary for clinical translation.