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Mk2 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Development, Invasion, And Growth Through Mk2-Induced Cytokines, Anita Lynne Ray

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in the United States for men and women. A major risk factor for CRC development and progression is inflammation, in particular the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. These proteins promote critical cancer functions, such as proliferation, invasion, survival, and migration. Control of inflammation is one potential area of therapeutic intervention for some cancers. Because signaling of these cytokines overlaps in many of the same pathways, targets upstream of protein production could prove an effective strategy to reduce inflammation. MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway controls production of these cytokines within …