Interleukin-23 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of oesophageal carcinoma cells via the Wnt/?-catenin pathway.

ABSTRACT: As the eighth most common malignant tumour worldwide, oesophageal cancer (OC) is often diagnosed during the metastasis of its advanced stage. Interleukin (IL)-23 is an immunomodulatory cytokine that has recently been identified as a cancer-associated factor. However, the role of IL-23 in the evolution of OC remains unclear. In the present study, we found that IL-23 was significantly expressed in the tumours of OC patients suffering metastasis and demonstrated that IL-23 contributed to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the Wnt/?-catenin pathway, promoting the migration and invasion of OC cells. In conclusion, IL-23 plays a pivotal role in the development of OC via EMT.

SUBMITTER: Chen D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4342574 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature