Proteomics approaches to study the correlation between inflammatory bowel diseases and carcinogenesis

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an autoimmune condition with an increasing incidence worldwide. It manifests in two pathological forms: Crohn’s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Both of them cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, although they can present different locations and symptoms. The pathogenesis of IBDs is still not fully understood. One of the major complications of these diseases is colorectal cancer. Several studies have reported a correlation between chronic intestinal inflammation and an increased risk of malignancy. Persistent inflammation damages the intestinal mucosa and epithelial wall, altering gut permeability and the local microenvironment. Moreover, the heightened activity of the immune system leads to an increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), increasing the risk of DNA mutation and cell transformation. In addition, some current therapies used to treat IBDs and induce remission may contribute to carcinogenesis or impair immune surveillance due to their immunosuppressive activity. Currently, the management of cancer risk for IBD patients is still challenging, and existing screening methods are often invasive (endoscopies, biopsies), resulting in low patient compliance. To address this unmet clinical need, researchers have started using proteomics to identify novel biomarkers that could predict cancer risk in IBD patients in a non-invasive manner. This thesis aims to review the current state of knowledge regarding the correlation between IBDs and cancer, with a special focus on the biomarkers discovered through proteomic approaches, and their potential application in routine clinical screening.