Figure 1.

IL-8/IL-8R axis. IL-8 is able to induce EMT and promote tumor progression. There are important associations between IL-8/IL-8R and EMT in cancer patients. The IL-8/IL-8R signaling pathway is able to induce IL-8 overexpression, which is closely correlated with poor prognosis. ATF-2, activating transcription factor-2; CXCR1/2, IL-8 receptor type 1/2; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; IL, interleukin; NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB; JNK, Jun N-terminal kinase; MMP, matrix metalloprotease; PI3K, phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; Syk, spleen associated tyrosine kinase; TGFβ, transforming growth factor β; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; ZEB1, zinc finger e-box binding homeobox 1.