Cytokines with Possible Clinical Utility

Biological response modifiers (BRM) are agents aimed at reducing tumor growth, not primarily by exerting direct cytotoxic effects but by modulation of tumor gene expression (e.g., induction of differentiation) or by enhancing host defense mechanisms directed against cancer cells. BRM as primary therapy or as adjuncts to cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancers have attracted increasing interest in view of stagnating clinical results in many areas [1], and there is increasing evidence of in vitro and in vivo efficacy of these agents. Furthermore, advances in molecular biology suggesting that oncogenes and their products play a crucial role in oncogenesis support approaches to modulation …