Interleukin-17F: A Promising Candidate of Cancer Therapy

Summary(IL-17F) belongs to IL-17 cytokine family and shares the strongest homology to another better studied member IL-17A. While IL-17A exhibited both pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles, there is growing evidence that IL-17F is involved in the pathogenesis of tumor. This review summarizes current knowledge of the biological actions of IL-17F in the tumor. IL-17F showed a protective role in colon and liver cancer associated with inhibited tumor angiogenesis and enhanced host inflammatory response, hence could be a potential target for tumor treatment. In contrast, blocking IL-17A signaling inhibited tumor angiogenesis, but bears potential risk for impairing host antitumor response. Therefore, up-modulating IL-17F with either no change or decreasing IL-17A signaling may be a promising approach for tumor treatment. However, IL-17F responses share many downstream molecules and upstream regulators with IL-17A. Investigations of the function and regulation of IL-17F and IL-17A may offer a new way to control tumor. Immunogastroenterology 2012; 1:100-103