We demonstrated here that blockade of the IL-6 signaling pathway by MR16-1 resulted in not only the suppression of elevated hepcidin levels leading to the improvement of iron-deficiency anemia status but also to amelioration of cancer symptoms, suggesting that suppression of hepcidin production by the blockade of IL-6 signaling may alleviate both anemia of cancer and cancer-related symptoms. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is cancer.