The Therapeutic Strategies Based on Cytokines in The Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Originates in the colon or rectum, due to powerful mutation ability and complex pathogenesis factors, the colorectal cancer (CRC) has remained its status of the world’s third death causing cancer for several years. Therefore, many medical methods have been produced. Among all the possible strategies, the cytokines targeted strategies showed its advantage in the treatment of cancers in multiple ways. Several typical cytokines whose function are different in colorectal cancer microenvironment, such as TGFβ whose function is vastly different before and after the invasion of tumor and IL-6 which could activate other chemokines to together contribute on the formation of inflammatory tumor microenvironment. There is also a cytokine family (IL-17) that each member has distinctive effect on the tumor cells, together forming a complex network of relationships with indirect promotion, direct promotion and mutual inhibition. Taken the properties of cytokines, the design of targeted therapy like blocking signal pathways, inhibiting the activity of cytokines and modification related genes have emerged and developed, which have more accuracy to cure and less side effect. This review summarized the function of these typical cytokines, their corresponding therapeutic strategies and potential defects, and aim to offer valuable resources for investigating cancer treatments that target pivotal molecules within cytokine-related signaling pathways.