The dual effects of interleukin-18 in cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

IL-18 was discovered as a proinflammatoty cytokine,stimulates natural killer and T cells and enhances Th1/Th2 immune response, and plays a central role in inflammation and immune response.. Immune-stimulating effects of IL-18 as a adjuvent agent against cancer,have antineoplastic properi-ties. However, Higher expression or secretion level of IL- 18 is detected in the blood of the majority of cancer pa-tients with poor prongnosis. IL-18 has also been associated with cancer progression and immune escape,is able to induce angiogenesis, metastasis. The dual effects of IL-18 in cancer need to be investigated further.