A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Systematic review of the association between circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cancer
Authors: Heikkila K, Ebrahim S, Lawlor DA
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication year: 2008
Journal: European Journal of Cancer
Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
Journal acronym: EUR J CANCER
Volume: 44
First page : 937
Last page: 945
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0959-8049
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2008.02.047
Abstract
Our aim was to systematically review the epidemiologic evidence for an association of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine and cancer. We systematically searched electronic databases Embase, Medline and Web of Science for the studies of circulating IL-6 and any form of cancer. We identified and reviewed 189 discrete studies, consisting of 177 prevalent studies and three prospective studies. Cancer patients' IL-6 concentrations were higher than healthy controls' in most studies, but the results of investigations comparing IL-6 in cancer patients and individuals with benign diseases were less consistent. Due to the small number of prospective studies it is impossible to determine whether IL-6 is causally related to cancer. Large prospective studies of circulating IL-6 or studies using the functional variants of the IL-6 gene as instruments for circulating IL-6 concentrations would provide information on possible aetiological links between IL-6 and malignancy. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Our aim was to systematically review the epidemiologic evidence for an association of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine and cancer. We systematically searched electronic databases Embase, Medline and Web of Science for the studies of circulating IL-6 and any form of cancer. We identified and reviewed 189 discrete studies, consisting of 177 prevalent studies and three prospective studies. Cancer patients' IL-6 concentrations were higher than healthy controls' in most studies, but the results of investigations comparing IL-6 in cancer patients and individuals with benign diseases were less consistent. Due to the small number of prospective studies it is impossible to determine whether IL-6 is causally related to cancer. Large prospective studies of circulating IL-6 or studies using the functional variants of the IL-6 gene as instruments for circulating IL-6 concentrations would provide information on possible aetiological links between IL-6 and malignancy. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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