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Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: An alternative therapy for cancer treatment

Zhang Fang1, Jingting Jiang1, Xiao Zheng1

  • 1Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; Institute for Cell Therapy of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.

Life Sciences
|November 17, 2023
PubMed

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and a naturally occurring antagonist of the IL-1 receptor. It effectively counteracts the IL-1 signaling pathway mediated by IL-1α/β. Over the past few decades, accumulating evidence has suggested that IL-1 signaling plays an essential role in tumor formation, growth, and metastasis. Significantly, anakinra, the first United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved IL-1Ra drug, has demonstrated promising antitumor effects in animal studies. Numerous clinical trials have subsequently incorporated anakinra into their cancer treatment protocols. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the research progress on the role of IL-1 in tumors and summarize the significant contribution of IL-1Ra (anakinra) to tumor immunity. Additionally, we analyze the potential value of IL-1Ra as a biomarker from a clinical perspective. This review is aimed to highlight the important link between inflammation and cancer and provide potential drug targets for future cancer therapy.

Keywords:
Cancer immunotherapyClinical valueIL-1 signalingIL-1RaInflammation

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