Role of TH17 cytokines in the control of colorectal cancer

Veronica De Simone; Francesco Pallone; Giovanni Monteleone; Carmine Stolfi

doi:10.4161/onci.26617

Role of T_H17 cytokines in the control of colorectal cancer

Oncoimmunology. 2013 Dec 1;2(12):e26617. doi: 10.4161/onci.26617. Epub 2013 Oct 22.

Authors

Veronica De Simone¹, Francesco Pallone¹, Giovanni Monteleone¹, Carmine Stolfi¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Systems Medicine; University of Tor Vergata; Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Immune/inflammatory cells infiltrate almost all human solid tumors and affect all stages of carcinogenesis as they produce different cytokine subsets. The overproduction of T_H17 cytokines marks the early stages of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and negatively influences the prognosis of CRC patients. Studies with murine models of CRC have delineated the mechanisms by which T_H17 cytokines, notably, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, regulate oncogenesis and tumor progression, paving the way to the development of novel anticancer drugs. In this review article, we discuss experimental data supporting the role of T_H17 cytokines in the modulation of colorectal tumorigenesis.

Keywords: IL-17A; IL-17F; IL-21; IL-22; NFκB; STAT3; TH17 cells; anti-cytokine therapy; colitis-associated colon cancer; inflammation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't