Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42238575›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in immunology2026

The complex role of IL-37 in cancer pathogenesis: exploring its influence on hallmarks of cancer.

Stavros P Papadakos, Ioanna E Stergiou, Maria S Andreou, Ioannis Stouras, Elena Chatzikalil, Maria Tzimou, Christina Karantanou, Maria-Ioanna Christodoulou, Stamatios Theocharis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Stavros P Papadakos *First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Ioanna E Stergiou *First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Maria S AndreouTumor Immunology and Biomarkers Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus., Nicosia, Cyprus.
Ioannis StourasFirst Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Elena ChatzikalilFirst Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Maria TzimouFirst Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Christina KarantanouDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Maria-Ioanna ChristodoulouTumor Immunology and Biomarkers Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus., Nicosia, Cyprus.
Stamatios TheocharisFirst Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is a cytokine primarily known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but its role in cancer pathogenesis reveals a complex and multifaceted influence. This review explores IL-37's diverse effects on fundamental hallmarks of cancer, such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and interactions with the immune system. We discuss how IL-37 can modulate these processes in different contexts-sometimes impeding tumor growth and other times facilitating it-depending on factors including the tumor type, stage, and surrounding microenvironment. The dual nature of IL-37's influence underscores its potential as both a therapeutic target and a biomarker for cancer progression, which remain to be validated in prospective clinical studies. By integrating recent findings, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of IL-37's contributions to cancer biology, offering insights into its possible future applications in personalized cancer treatment strategies and enhancing our ability to tailor interventions based on the specific roles of IL-37 in individual cancers.

Indexed as

Interleukin-1NeoplasmsAnimalsCell ProliferationHumansSignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentIL37 protein, humanInterleukin-1cancer pathogenesishallmarks of cancerIL-37immunotherapyinflammation

Identifiers

PMID42238575
PMCPMC13226515

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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.