Methods and compositions for treatment and therapy of cancer are provided. Specifically, antagonists specific for interleukin-17 receptor B (IL-17RB) and its ligand IL-17B are provided. Potent neutralizing antibodies specific for IL-17RB and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. The invention also relates to antisense, RNAi and shRNA compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancer, in particular breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.