Interaction between non-small-cell lung cancer cells and fibroblasts via enhancement of TGF-β signaling by IL-6

IL-6 enhanced epithelial cell EMT and stimulated tumor progression by enhancing TGF-β signaling. IL-6 and TGF-β may play a contributing role in maintenance of the paracrine loop between these two cytokines in the communication between fibroblasts and NSCLC cells for tumor progression.