The role of interleukin-17 in tumor development and progression

Authors: Junjie Zhao, Xing Chen, Tomasz Herjan, Xiaoxia Li

Published: 2019-11-14

DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190297

Source: Full article


Abstract

IL-17, a potent proinflammatory cytokine, has been shown to intimately contribute to the formation, growth, and metastasis of a wide range of malignancies. Recent studies implicate IL-17 as a link among inflammation, wound healing, and cancer. While IL-17–mediated production of inflammatory mediators mobilizes immune-suppressive and angiogenic myeloid cells, emerging studies reveal that IL-17 can directly act on tissue stem cells to promote tissue repair and tumorigenesis. Here, we review the pleotropic impacts of IL-17 on cancer biology, focusing how IL-17–mediated inflammatory response and mitogenic signaling are exploited to equip its cancer-promoting function and discussing the implications in therapies.