Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2021 Feb;14(1):50-60. 10.21053/ceo.2019.00906.

Association Between Interleukin-6 and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

• Uz U
• Eskiizmir G

• KMID: 2512881
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2019.00906

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine which plays an important role in several regulatory mechanisms of cancer. Moreover, experimental and clinical studies have reported that IL-6 targeted therapies might provide significant benefits for cancer treatment. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate IL-6 activity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A systematic review of the association between serum, saliva and tumor IL-6 and HNSCC was developed on PubMed/Medline in the publication range from January 1995 to January 2019. Our literature analysis demonstrated that overexpression and elevated serum and/or saliva IL-6 concentrations in patients with HNSCC are related to poor survival and oncological outcomes. Although there is a correlation between IL-6 concentrations and tumorigenicity, it is noteworthy that IL-6 targeted therapies are generally performed in vitro and in experimental studies. Therefore, prospective, randomized clinical trials are required that focus on IL-6 targeted therapies for the treatment of HNSCC.

Keyword

Interleukin 6; Survival; Carcinogenesis; Inflammation; Head and Neck Neoplasms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. (A-C) The activation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathway. (D) IL-6 signaling pathways activated the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK-STAT), PI3K signaling pathways and the Ras-MAPK mitogen activated protein kinase pathways which have several effects on inflammatory, autoimmune or malignant diseases.

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