Inflammation and cancer revisited: An hypothesis on the oncogenic potential of the apoptotic tumor cell

It is well known that an important property of apoptosis is the prevention of cancer. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that apoptotic cells have the capacity to activate reparative and regenerative responses, which have the potential to make significant impact on pathological processes underlying autoimmune disease and cancer. Those properties of apoptotic cells that influence their immediate microenvironment are reviewed here in the context of cancer progression and treatment.