Abstract
Interleukin 6 is a multifunctional cytokine. Its increased levels have been associated with elevated cancer risk, and also these levels have been found to be a prognostic factor for several cancer types. In addition, increased levels have been found in coronary heart disease, insulin resistant patients, advance stage cancer patients, atopy/asthma and in patients with blood circulating micrometastasis. Additionally several studies with different types of cancers have been performed to identify the correlation between interleukin-6 levels, stage, treatment response and severity of symptoms. The influence of interleukin-6 is performed mainly through the janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription-zinc finger protein 1-2 signaling pathway. As a result, the increased levels of interleukin-6 are responsible for enhanced neo-angiogenesis, inhibition of cancer cell apoptosis and deregulation of the control mechanisms in the microenvironment. In addition, increased levels of inteleukin-6 have been found to increase the production of collagen and a-actin which induce interstitial lung disease. In the current mini review we will present information regarding the interleukin-6 and published results in several cancer studies and finally we will comment in future treatment approaches blocking this cytokine in cancer patients. Copyright:
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 1000062 |
Journal | Immunome Research |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- Angiogenesis
- Cancer
- Cytokine
- Interleukin-6
- JAK
- SNAIL
- STAT
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Computer Science Applications
- Computational Theory and Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics