Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Metastasis is the prime driver of CRC-related mortality, and the liver is the organ most frequently involved. Despite the overall success of current treatments, colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is associated with poor prognoses and a survival rate of only 14%. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the crosstalk within it in determining the invasion of distant organs by circulating cancer cells. In the TME, cellular communication is mediated via soluble molecules, among which cytokines have recently emerged as key regulators, involved in every aspect of tumor progression and the metastatic cascade. Indeed, in the serum of CRC patients elevated levels of several cytokines are associated with cancer development and progression. The current review evaluates the role of different cytokines during CRLM development. Additionally, considering the increasing amount of data concerning the importance of cytokine complex networks, we outline the potential of combination treatments using targeted cytokines together with other well-established therapies, such as immune checkpoint blockades, chemotherapy, or gene therapy, to improve therapeutic outcomes.
结直肠癌是全球癌症相关死亡的第三大主要原因。转移是导致结直肠癌相关死亡的主要驱动因素，而肝脏是最常受累的器官。尽管现有治疗手段总体有效，但结直肠癌肝转移预后较差，生存率仅为14%。近期研究强调了肿瘤微环境及其内部信号交流在决定循环癌细胞侵袭远处器官过程中的重要性。在肿瘤微环境中，细胞间通讯通过可溶性分子介导，其中细胞因子作为关键调节因子，参与肿瘤进展和转移级联反应的各个环节。事实上，结直肠癌患者血清中多种细胞因子水平升高与癌症发生发展密切相关。本综述评估了不同细胞因子在结直肠癌肝转移发展过程中的作用。此外，考虑到关于细胞因子复杂网络重要性的数据日益增多，我们概述了靶向细胞因子联合其他成熟疗法（如免疫检查点阻断、化疗或基因治疗）的联合治疗策略在改善治疗效果方面的潜力。
Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Can Cytokines Make the Difference?
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家