IL-6 signaling promotes DNA repair and prevents apoptosis in CD133+ stem-like cells of lung cancer after radiation.

Background: Local tumor control by standard fractionated radiotherapy (RT) remains poor because of tumor resistance to radiation (radioresistance). It has been suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are more radioresistant than non-CSCs. In previous studies, we have shown IL-6 promotes self-renewal of CD133+ CSC-like cells.