IL6 and cancer: Our results are consistent with those of previous studies that reported elevated levels of several circulating cytokines in cancer patients, namely increased concentrations of cytokines MIF, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10, and TGF-β in the peripheral blood of cancer patients, leading to simultaneous immune activation and immunosuppression in cancer patients (40, 41).