Interleukin-6 cytokine: a multifunctional glycoprotein for cancer.
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.
Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; Department of Interventional Pneumology, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Paul
P
Zarogoulidis
Lonny
L
Yarmus
Kaid
K
Darwiche
Robert
R
Walter
Haidong
H
Huang
Zhigang
Z
Li
Bojan
B
Zaric
Kosmas
K
Tsakiridis
Konstantinos
K
Zarogoulidis
Angiogenesis; Cancer; Cytokine; Interleukin-6; JAK; SNAIL; STAT