The IL-23 to IL-17 cascade inflammation-related cancers.

Two inflammatory cytokines, IL-23 and IL-17A, produced by myeloid cells and different lymphocyte subsets, were found to play important pathogenic functions in several inflammation-related cancers. In colorectal cancer, elevated expression of IL-23, IL-23 receptor and IL-17A has been linked to adverse prognostic outcome and rapid progression to metastatic disease. In mouse models of colorectal tumourigenesis genetic or pharmacological inhibition of these cytokines attenuates tumour development and malignant progression. Collectively, such findings suggest that IL-23 and/or IL-17A inhibitors should be evaluated for their therapeutic and preventative potential in human cancers, especially in colorectal cancer.