Interleukin-6 and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (IL-6 and bFGF)

Paracrine secretion of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF, also known as FGF2) is a coordinated signaling mechanism frequently observed in the tumor microenvironment and chronic inflammatory states. IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that drives systemic inflammation and tumor cell survival through the activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway (UniProt P05231). Concurrently, bFGF acts as a potent mitogen and pro-angiogenic factor that binds to fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) to promote vascularization and tissue remodeling (UniProt P09038). In many cancers, stromal cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) secrete both factors to create a niche that supports tumor growth, chemoresistance, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (PubMed: 20471146). Therapeutic intervention typically targets these components separately, using monoclonal antibodies like Siltuximab for IL-6 or kinase inhibitors like Erdafitinib for the FGFR signaling stimulated by bFGF (NIH/NCI). This dual signaling axis is a critical driver of disease progression and a significant challenge in overcoming therapeutic resistance.

Other names

IL-6 and FGF2Interleukin-6 and Fibroblast growth factor 2Paracrine IL-6/bFGF signaling axisIL6 and FGF-basic

Inhibition of IL-6 signaling via monoclonal antibodies against the ligand or its receptor (IL-6R), and inhibition of bFGF signaling via small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1-4).