Issues

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has tumor-promoting actions on both malignant and stromal cells in a range of experimental cancer models. In addition, high plasma IL-6 levels are associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer, but there is little information as to the source of this IL-6. Ovarian cancer biopsies were stained for IL-6 (left) and automated algorithms used to assess both malignant (right) and stromal (middle) compartments. Expression levels were quantified using an autoscore that combined both the intensity and density of positive pixels. IL-6 staining was seen in both the malignant and nonmalignant cells, but was significantly higher in the malignant cell areas. For further details, see Coward and colleagues on page 6083 of this issue.