NLRP3 and cancer: Expression or secretion level of IL-18 is detected in different cancer cells in comparison with normal tissue.290 For example, in lymphoma, NLRP3 inflammasome-induced IL-18 contributes to promoting proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis in cancer cells and reducing drug resistance by interfering with the balance of c-Myc/TP53 protein and Bcl-2/Bcl-2 associated with Bax protein.291 Similarly, the inflammatory adapter ASC/IL-18 signaling pathway has a tumor-promoting effect in gastric cancer.