GM-CSF facilitates the development of inflammation-associated colorectal carcinoma.

The granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is known to play a protective role in intestinal inflammation. However, the effects of GM-CSF on the progression of colitis to colorectal carcinoma have long remained unclear. We have recently demonstrated that GM-CSF produced by colonic epithelial cells promotes colorectal tumorigenesis by stimulating the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor.