The Role of IL-6 in Cancer Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis-Overview and Therapeutic Opportunities

Magdalena Rašková; Lukáš Lacina; Zdeněk Kejík; Anna Venhauerová; Markéta Skaličková; Michal Kolář; Milan Jakubek; Daniel Rosel; Karel Smetana Jr; Jan Brábek

doi:10.3390/cells11223698

The Role of IL-6 in Cancer Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis-Overview and Therapeutic Opportunities

Cells. 2022 Nov 21;11(22):3698. doi: 10.3390/cells11223698.

Authors

Magdalena Rašková^{1

2}, Lukáš Lacina^{3

4

5

6}, Zdeněk Kejík^{3

4

7}, Anna Venhauerová², Markéta Skaličková², Michal Kolář^{3

8}, Milan Jakubek^{3

4

7}, Daniel Rosel^{1

2}, Karel Smetana Jr^{3

4

6}, Jan Brábek^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
² BIOCEV, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic.
³ Centre for Tumour Ecology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
⁴ BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic.
⁵ Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
⁶ Department of Dermatovenereology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
⁷ Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
⁸ Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 140 00 Prague, Czech Republic.

Abstract

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) belongs to a broad class of cytokines involved in the regulation of various homeostatic and pathological processes. These activities range from regulating embryonic development, wound healing and ageing, inflammation, and immunity, including COVID-19. In this review, we summarise the role of IL-6 signalling pathways in cancer biology, with particular emphasis on cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis formation. Targeting principal components of IL-6 signalling (e.g., IL-6Rs, gp130, STAT3, NF-κB) is an intensively studied approach in preclinical cancer research. It is of significant translational potential; numerous studies strongly imply the remarkable potential of IL-6 signalling inhibitors, especially in metastasis suppression.

Keywords: IL-6; cancer; metastasis.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
Humans
Interleukin-6 / metabolism
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Signal Transduction

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Interleukin-6
IL6 protein, human

Grants and funding

This work was funded by Operational Programme Research, Development and Education, within the projects: Centre for Tumour Ecology—Research of the Cancer Microenvironment Supporting Cancer Growth and Spread (reg. No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000785), project National Institute for Cancer Research (Programme EXCELES, ID Project No. LX22NPO5102)—funded by the European Union—Next Generation EU. This work was also supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, grant No. LM2018133 (EATRIS-CZ), and by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (grants Nos. NU21-08-00407 and NU22-D-136).