IL6 and neoplasm: Thus, in the tumor microenvironment, carcinoma-derived IL-1 (IL-1α and IL-1β) activates mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to produce PGE2 and other cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, Gro-α, and RANTES that in turn act on the carcinoma cells and induce activation of β-catenin and transition into CSCs.