Just over half of respondents in a recent survey believe that cytokines will make cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by the immune response
To supplement a recent in-depth study on cytokines and growth factors conducted by the Science Advisory Board, members were asked how cytokines might most effectively be used to treat cancer.
"While it is generally accepted by the biomedical community that because cytokines enhance immunity, they hold great promise as cancer therapeutics," observes Tamara Zemlo, director of scientific and medical communications for the Science Advisory Board, "the mechanisms by which this goal is best accomplished is not definitively known." 51% of the 946 participants believe that cytokines will make cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by the immune response.
In contrast, 23% of the respondents postulate that cytokines will directly inhibit tumour cell growth.
Only 15% think that these critical components of the immune system will actually alter a cancer cell's growth patterns to promote healthy cell-like behaviour.
Cytokines function as messengers of the immune system by regulating the intensity and duration of the immune response by exerting a variety of effects on lymphocytes and other immune cells.
Cytokines also control cellular proliferation and differentiation.
In the immune system, cytokines function in cascades making it difficult to study the effects of only a single cytokine in treating cancer.
Nevertheless, in the USA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of two cytokines-IL-2 and interferon-alpha-for treatment of cancer.
IL-2 has demonstrated activity against renal cell, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Interferon has been effective against these cancers as well as against Kaposi's sarcoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.
However, there have been some problems with deleterious side effects due to cytokine treatments.
The Science Advisory Board, however, firmly believes that further research in the field of cytokine therapy for cancer treatment is definitely warranted.
