Cytokine-Induced Modulation of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The emergence of novel immunomodulatory cancer therapies over the last decade, above all immune checkpoint blockade, has significantly advanced tumor treatment. For colorectal cancer (CRC), a novel scoring system based on the immune cell infiltration in tumors has greatly improved disease prognostic evaluation and guidance to more specific therapy. These findings underline the relevance of tumor immunology in the future handling and therapeutic approach of malignant disease. Inflammation can either promote or suppress CRC pathogenesis and inflammatory mediators, mainly cytokines, critically determine the pro- or anti-tumorigenic signals within the tumor environment. Here, we review the current knowledge on the cytokines known to be critically involved in CRC development and illustrate their mechanisms of action. We also highlight similarities and differences between CRC patients and murine models of CRC and point out cytokines with an ambivalent role for intestinal cancer. We also identify some of the future challenges in the field that should be addressed for the development of more effective immunomodulatory therapies.

The Role of Escherichia coli in the Development and Progression of Cancer

“…The local intestinal inflammation is an important factor to trigger dysbiosis (6). In general, inflammation has been established as a risk factor for the development of several cancers including colon cancer; because different cytokines and chemokines may promote the development and progression of tumors (7). In colon cancer, alterations in cytokines pattern production have been detected (8), with increased levels of IL-8 (9), IL-6 (10), and the platelet-derived growth factor…”

Circulating and genetic factors in colorectal cancer: Potential factors for establishing prognosis?

“…The tumour microenvironment contains several host cells that may suppress or promote aggressiveness of the cancer. Lymphocytes including macrophages, natural killer cells and regulatory T-cells are found in the surrounding stroma and will normally eradicate cancer cells but may also contribute to cancer progression (Mager et al, 2016, Itatani et al, 2016. The cytokine network consists of cytokines, chemokines, interferons and interleukins (Murphy et al, 2008).…”

“…The cytokine network consists of cytokines, chemokines, interferons and interleukins (Murphy et al, 2008). They are secreted membrane-bound proteins produced from cells of both the innate-and the adaptive immunity, enabling immune cells to communicate with each other (Alizadeh et al, 2014, Murphy et al, 2008 (Itatani et al, 2016, Mager et al, 2016. The cytokines can be divided into pro-tumourigenic (cytokines that facilitate cancer progression) and anti-tumourigenic (cytokines that inhibits cancer progression)…”

“…carcinogenesis described in Itatani et al and Mager et al Cytokines that are both pro-and anti-tumourigenic are placed in between the circles (Itatani et al, 2016, Mager et al, 2016.…”

“…Inflammatory factors such as cytokines are similar to growth factors, which can bind to receptors present on cells appearing in both the innate-and adaptive immunity, enabling infiltration of inflammatory cells that may contribute to cancer development (Mager et al, 2016). In this study, a possible association between the concentrations of several cytokines in plasma at the time of CRC surgery and CRC prognosis was investigated.…”