Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40806452›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

IL-20 Subfamily Biological Effects: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Perspectives in Cancer.

Valentina Maggisano, Maria D'Amico, Saveria Aquila, Francesca Giordano, Anna Martina Battaglia, Adele Chimento, Flavia Biamonte, Diego Russo, Vincenzo Pezzi, Stefania Bulotta and 1 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Progress in Designing Cytokine Antagonist Antibodies for Cancer Therapy.BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Valentina MaggisanoDepartment of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Maria D'AmicoDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.
Saveria AquilaDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.
Francesca GiordanoDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7621-1969
Anna Martina BattagliaDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Adele ChimentoDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.
Flavia BiamonteDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Diego RussoDepartment of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7559-1595
Vincenzo PezziDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2311-2286
Stefania BulottaDepartment of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Francesca De AmicisDepartment of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7079-1037

Funding

Italian Ministry of University and Research PRIN2022YHL52A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The interleukin-20 (IL-20) cytokine subfamily, a subset of the IL-10 superfamily, includes IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, and IL-26. Recently, their involvement in cancer biology has gained attention, particularly due to their impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Notably, IL-20 subfamily cytokines can exert both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic effects, depending on the context. For example, IL-22 promotes tumor growth by enhancing cancer cell proliferation and protecting against apoptosis, whereas IL-24 demonstrates anti-tumor activity by inducing cancer cell death and inhibiting metastasis. Additionally, these cytokines influence macrophage polarization-an essential factor in the immune landscape of tumors-thereby modulating the inflammatory environment and immune evasion strategies. Understanding the dual role of IL-20 subfamily cytokines within the TME and their interactions with cancer cell hallmarks presents a promising avenue for therapeutic development. Interleukin-20 receptor antagonists are being researched for their role in cancer therapy, since they potentially inhibit tumor growth and progression. This review explores the relationship between IL-20 cytokines and key cancer-related processes, including growth and proliferative advantages, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and TME support. Further research is necessary to unravel the specific mechanisms underlying their contributions to tumor progression and to determine their potential for targeted therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

InterleukinsNeoplasmsAnimalsHumansNeovascularization, PathologicTumor Microenvironmentinterleukin 20Interleukinscancer progressioncytokinesinflammation

Identifiers

PMID40806452
PMCPMC12347730

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.