Despite great progress has been made in treatment strategies, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the predominant life-threatening malignancy with the feature of high morbidity and mortality. It has been widely acknowledged that the dysfunction of immune system, including aberrantly expressed cytokines, is strongly correlated with the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. As one of the most well-known cytokines that were discovered centuries ago, interleukins are now uncovering new insights into colorectal cancer therapy. Herein, we divide currently known interleukins into 6 families, including IL-1 family, IL-2 family, IL-6 family, IL-8 family, IL-10 family and IL-17 family. In addition, we comprehensively reviewed the oncogenic or antitumour function of each interleukin involved in CRC pathogenesis and progression by elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, by providing interleukins-associated clinical trials, we have further driven the profound prospect of interleukins in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

中文翻译：

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白细胞介素在结直肠癌中的作用。

尽管治疗策略取得了很大进展，但结直肠癌（CRC）仍然是威胁生命的主要恶性肿瘤，具有高发病率和死亡率的特点。人们普遍认为，免疫系统功能障碍，包括异常表达的细胞因子，与结直肠癌的发病机制和进展密切相关。作为几个世纪前发现的最著名的细胞因子之一，白细胞介素现在正在揭示结直肠癌治疗的新见解。在此，我们将目前已知的白细胞介素分为6个家族，包括IL-1家族、IL-2家族、IL-6家族、IL-8家族、IL-10家族和IL-17家族。此外，我们通过阐明潜在机制，全面回顾了参与 CRC 发病机制和进展的每种白细胞介素的致癌或抗肿瘤功能。此外，通过提供白细胞介素相关的临床试验，我们进一步推动了白细胞介素在结直肠癌治疗中的深远前景。