title: Interleukin-6 as a therapy target in oral squamous carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which is implicated in the regulation of immune responses and cellular events. It may activate signaling pathways of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) factors, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and Akt. IL-6 could exert pleiotropic effects in a variety of cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma epidemiology, pathology, regulation by IL-6, and experimental therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma development is in part facilitated by chronic epithelial irritations and this tumor is more frequent in smokers or individuals who consume excessive amounts of alcohol. IL-6 levels are elevated in this neoplasm and IL-6 is considered a bad prognostic factor in oral cancer. IL-6 secretion in oral squamous cancer is facilitated by the microenvironment, in particular by stromal derived factor-1. IL-6 function in non-malignant and malignant diseases is controlled by endogenous inhibitors of cytokine signaling. IL-6 action in oral squamous cancer is largely mediated by the JAK/STAT3 pathway and may lead to epithelial to mesenchymal transition, thus contributing to tumor progression. IL-6 also enhances angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis through regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, experimental anti-IL-6/anti-IL-6 receptor-targeted therapies in oral cancer have been proposed.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Urology, Department of Urology, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. zoran.culig@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Culig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases