Interleukin-6 and prostate cancer progression.
Prostate cancer, while initially dependent on androgens for proliferation, progresses to an androgen-independent state. Evidence has been accumulating that interleukin-6 (IL-6) may contribute to prostate cancer progression. Serum levels of IL-6 correlate with prostate tumor burden and patient morbidity. The prostate tissue itself appears to be a source of IL-6 and its receptor. Furthermore, experimental data suggest that IL-6 is an autocrine and paracrine growth factor for androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. For example, inhibition of IL-6, with anti-IL-6 antibody, sensitizes androgen-independent prostate cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro. Finally, IL-6 activates a variety of signal transduction cascades, some which stimulate androgen receptor activity, in prostate cancer cells. These data suggest that targeting IL-6 may have multiple benefits in prostate cancer patients.
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Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, Institute of Gerontology and Connective Tissue Oncology Program, Room 5304 CCGCB, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0940, USA.
Hobisch
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Lin
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Culig
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Keller
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D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015850:Interleukin-6; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6