Recent studies have reported that deficiency of IL-6 protects against B-cell lymphomagenesis24 while serous IL-6 levels are associated with prognosis of DLBCL.25 Moreover, downregulation of IGF-1 led to reduced proliferation of DLBCL cell lines through inhibition of the IGF-1 receptor.23 In the current study, IL-6- and IGF-1-cultured cells were significantly increased compared with the control group, indicating a role of these cytokines in promoting disease progression. Here, IL6 is linked to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.