Interleukin-6: minor player or starring role in the development of hormone-refractory prostate cancer?

Tumour growth independent of the presence of androgens represents the main challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer. The concept that other factors activate the normal or mutated androgen receptor has been given new significance with the identification of interleukin- 6. The review by Corcoran et al. is timely, and updates the reader on current publications and understanding of the role of interleukin-6 in activating the androgen receptor and in the progression of prostate cancer. This will be helpful, as the number of publication in this area increases; in fact, five papers have already been published since this review was accepted.