title: [Clinical significance of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a prognostic factor of cancer disease].
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is proinflammatory cytokine that produces multifunctional effects. It is also involved in the regulation of immune reactions, hematopoiesis and inflammatory state. Interleukin-6 has been shown to be associated with tumor progression including inhibition of cancer cells apoptosis and stimulation of angiogenesis. Anti-IL-6 therapy is a new strategy in the inflammatory autoimmune diseases and cancer. Clinical studies have shown elevated serum IL-6 concentrations in patients with endometrial cancer, non-small cell lung carcinoma, colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, breast and ovarian cancer. Serum IL-6 levels correlate with tumor stage, and survival of patients. In this article we have focused on a role of IL-6 as a prognostic factor in several malignancies such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Diagnostyki Biochemicznej, Akademia Medyczna, Białystok. martha_21@interia.pl
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Łukaszewicz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mroczko
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szmitkowski
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6