IL-6 and related cytokines as the critical lynchpins between inflammation and cancer

Koji Taniguchi; Michael Karin

doi:10.1016/j.smim.2014.01.001

IL-6 and related cytokines as the critical lynchpins between inflammation and cancer

Semin Immunol. 2014 Feb;26(1):54-74. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2014.01.001. Epub 2014 Feb 16.

Authors

Koji Taniguchi¹, Michael Karin²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
² Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: karinoffice@ucsd.edu.

PMID: 24552665
DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2014.01.001

Abstract

Inflammatory responses play pivotal roles in cancer development, including tumor initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. Cytokines are now recognized as important mediators linking inflammation and cancer, and are therefore potential therapeutic and preventive targets as well as prognostic factors. The interleukin (IL)-6 family of cytokines, especially IL-6 and IL-11, is highly up-regulated in many cancers and considered as one of the most important cytokine families during tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review discusses molecular mechanisms linking the IL-6 cytokine family to solid malignancies and their treatment.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Gastric cancer; Hepatocellular carcinoma; IL-11; IL-6; STAT3; gp130.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Cytokines / genetics
Cytokines / metabolism*
Humans
Inflammation / genetics
Inflammation / immunology
Inflammation / metabolism*
Interleukin-6 / genetics
Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neoplasms / drug therapy
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / immunology
Neoplasms / metabolism*
Neoplasms / pathology
Neovascularization, Pathologic
Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Receptors, Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
Receptors, Interleukin-6 / metabolism
Signal Transduction* / drug effects

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Cytokines
Interleukin-6
Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Receptors, Interleukin-6