Open Access

IL‑6 plays a crucial role in epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and pro‑metastasis induced by sorafenib in liver cancer

  • Authors:
    • Ke‑Wei Zhang
    • Dong Wang
    • Hao Cai
    • Man‑Qing Cao
    • Yuan‑Yuan Zhang
    • Peng‑Yuan Zhuang
    • Jun Shen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 7, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.7926
  • Pages: 1105-1117
  • Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) is involved in various biological responses, including tumor progression, metastasis and chemoresistance. However, the role and molecular mechanism of IL‑6 in the treatment of sorafenib in liver cancer remain unclear. In the present study, through western blot analysis, Transwell assay, flow cytometric assay, ELISA analysis and immunohistochemistry it was revealed that sorafenib promoted metastasis and induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and significantly increased IL‑6 expression. Endogenous or exogenous IL‑6 affected metastasis and EMT progression in liver cancer cells through Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. Knocked out IL‑6 markedly attenuated the pro‑metastasis effect of sorafenib and increased the susceptibility of liver cancer cells to it. In conclusion, the present results indicated that IL‑6/STAT3 signaling may be a novel therapeutic strategy for liver cancer.
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March-2021
Volume 45 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhang KW, Wang D, Cai H, Cao MQ, Zhang YY, Zhuang PY and Shen J: IL‑6 plays a crucial role in epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and pro‑metastasis induced by sorafenib in liver cancer. Oncol Rep 45: 1105-1117, 2021
APA
Zhang, K., Wang, D., Cai, H., Cao, M., Zhang, Y., Zhuang, P., & Shen, J. (2021). IL‑6 plays a crucial role in epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and pro‑metastasis induced by sorafenib in liver cancer. Oncology Reports, 45, 1105-1117. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.7926
MLA
Zhang, K., Wang, D., Cai, H., Cao, M., Zhang, Y., Zhuang, P., Shen, J."IL‑6 plays a crucial role in epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and pro‑metastasis induced by sorafenib in liver cancer". Oncology Reports 45.3 (2021): 1105-1117.
Chicago
Zhang, K., Wang, D., Cai, H., Cao, M., Zhang, Y., Zhuang, P., Shen, J."IL‑6 plays a crucial role in epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and pro‑metastasis induced by sorafenib in liver cancer". Oncology Reports 45, no. 3 (2021): 1105-1117. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.7926