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The significant role of interleukin-6 and its signaling pathway in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of breast cancer
Open accessAbstract
Despite remarkable improvements in cancer treatment approaches, breast cancer is still the main cause of cancer-related death in women. Its principal cause is the resistance of the cancer cells against conventional anticancer therapeutics, mainly in advanced disease stages. It has been shown that chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor growth and induces resistance toward chemo- and radiotherapy. Overexpression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine in the tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated in numerous tumors including breast cancer. Tumor cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts are the major sources of IL-6 secretion in the tumor microenvironment. Several studies have demonstrated the immunopathogenic function of IL-6 and its signaling in the tumor growth, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in the breast cancer. Therefore, it seems that targeting IL-6 and/or its receptor in combination with other potent anticancer therapies may be a potent therapeutic approach for breast cancer therapy.
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“IL-6 is also a key factor in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer, with its effect mainly exerted through the IL-6–signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway (18–26, 61–65).”
From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Masjedi, A., Hashemi, V., Hojjat-Farsangi, M., Ghalamfarsa, G., Azizi, G., Yousefi, M., & Jadidi-Niaragh, F.
- Affiliations
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- University of Maragheh (IR)
- Yasuj University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Alborz University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-12
- Volume
- 108
- Pages
- 1415-1424
- ISSN
- 0753-3322 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2894776217
- Cited by
- 303
- References
- 136
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Medical Research Development
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, IL-6 signaling, breast cancer, tumor microenvironment, chronic inflammation, cancer-associated fibroblasts, chemoresistance, radioresistance (biology), metastasis, immunopathogenesis, combination therapy
- MeSH terms
- Janus Kinase Inhibitors, Interleukin-6 Inhibitors, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Signal Transduction, Interleukin-6, Receptors, Interleukin-6, Tumor Microenvironment, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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