IL6 and cancer: Several mechanisms have been reported for the relationship between inflammatory response and malignancy: (i) tumor growth or invasion could induce tissue inflammation; (ii) necrosis of tumor and hypoxia or local tissue damage might activate an inflammatory response; and (iii) cancer cells, tumor-related leukocytes, or both could induce the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as necrosis factor of tumor, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor.