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REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1479505

The role of interleukin-17 in inflammation-related cancers

Provisionally accepted
Xingru Zhang Xingru Zhang 1Bangjie Li Bangjie Li 2Tian Lan Tian Lan 1Conner Chiari Conner Chiari 3Xiaoyang Ye Xiaoyang Ye 4Kepeng Wang Kepeng Wang 3Ju Chen Ju Chen 2*
  • 1 Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
  • 2 Eighth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
  • 3 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, United States
  • 4 Northeastern University, London, England, United Kingdom

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Emerging evidence indicates a correlation between inflammation and the development and progression of cancer. Among the various inflammatory signals, interleukin-17 (IL-17) family cytokines serve as a critical link between inflammation and cancer. IL-17 is a highly versatile pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a pivotal role in host defense, tissue repair, the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, and cancer progression. During the early stages of tumorigenesis, IL-17 signaling directly promotes the proliferation of tumor cells. Conversely, IL-17 has been shown to exhibit antitumor immunity in several models of grafted subcutaneous tumors. Additionally, dynamic changes in the microbiome can influence the secretion of IL-17, thereby affecting tumor development. The specific role of IL-17 is contingent upon its functional classification, spatiotemporal characteristics, and the stage of tumor development. In this review, we introduce the fundamental biology of IL-17 and the expression profile of its receptors in cancer, while also reviewing and discussing recent advancements regarding the pleiotropic effects and mechanisms of IL-17 in inflammation-related cancers. Furthermore, we supplement our discussion with insights into the mechanisms by which IL-17 impacts cancer progression through interactions with the microbiota, and we explore the implications of IL-17 in cancer therapy. This comprehensive analysis aims to enhance our understanding of IL-17 and its potential role in cancer treatment.

    Keywords: Interleukin-17, Cancer, Inflammation, Tumor Microenvironment, Immunotherapy

    Received: 12 Aug 2024; Accepted: 27 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Li, Lan, Chiari, Ye, Wang and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Ju Chen, Eighth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.