Interleukin-6 signaling regulates anchorage-independent growth, proliferation, adhesion and invasion in human ovarian cancer cells

► We find that IL-6 secreted by OVCA cells promotes malignant behavior of these cells. ► IL-6 promotes OVCA cell proliferation by altering cell cycle distribution. ► IL-6 stimulates cell proliferation via activation of Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt. ► IL-6-enhanced cell invasive correlates with increased MMP-9 but not MMP-2 activity. ► Regulation of IL-6 may be a promising strategy for controlling OVCA progression.