Influence of interleukin-6 on the invasiveness of human colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) level correlates with patient survival in colorectal carcinoma and is regarded as a prognostic factor. In this study, the role of IL-6 in colorectal carcinoma proliferation, chemotaxis and invasion was investigated.


METHODS
Proliferation and invasion were measured in four colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The effect of IL-6 (10, 50, 100 ng/ml) on progression (the ability to grow, adhere, chemotax and invade) was also measured.


RESULTS
Physiological (10 ng/ml) and pharmacological (50 and 100 ng/ml) concentrations of IL-6 did not significantly affect growth. However, IL-6 (10 ng/ml) significantly increased attachment to basement membrane (p < 0.05). IL-6 (50 ng/ml) significantly increased the chemotaxis, anchorage-independent growth and invasiveness of SW-480 (one of the four cell lines) (p < 0.05). IL-6 (100 ng/ml) resulted in negative feedback inhibition of these effects.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-6 plays an important role in the progression of colorectal carcinoma.
Hsu
Chi-Pin
CP
Department of Medical Technology, Yuanpei University, Taiwan, ROC.
Chung
Yuan-Chiang
YC
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
D015850:Interleukin-6