Autocrine Interleukin-6/Interleukin-6 Receptor Stimulation in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

EB Haura, S Livingston, D Coppola - Clinical lung cancer, 2006 - Elsevier
EB Haura, S Livingston, D Coppola
Clinical lung cancer, 2006Elsevier
Autocrine growth factor stimulation resulting in growth self-sufficiency is a hallmark of
cancer. Classically, non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells have autocrine epidermal
growth factor stimulation through coexpression of receptors and ligands. In addition to
epidermal growth factor receptor and other growth factor ligand–receptor autocrine loops,
increasing evidence suggests important roles for cytokines in mediating intracellular
signaling events important in cell growth and survival. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to …
Abstract
Autocrine growth factor stimulation resulting in growth self-sufficiency is a hallmark of cancer. Classically, non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells have autocrine epidermal growth factor stimulation through coexpression of receptors and ligands. In addition to epidermal growth factor receptor and other growth factor ligand–receptor autocrine loops, increasing evidence suggests important roles for cytokines in mediating intracellular signaling events important in cell growth and survival. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to activate pathways important in tumorigenesis including Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription, phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that NSCLC specimens have tumor expression of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor components gp80 and gp130. These results suggest that IL-6 autocrine signaling might contribute to downstream signaling events in NSCLC and further support the concept of multiple autocrine pathways contributing to the pathogenesis of NSCLC.
Elsevier