title: Biologic and clinical significance of cytokine production in B-cell malignancies.
abstract: Cytokines are a group of polypeptide hormones endowed with pleiotropic biological properties. Normal B lymphocytes produce a number of these factors that subserve important regulatory functions in the combined processes of proliferation and differentiation. Also neoplastic B cells can release cytokines and, simultaneously, respond to the same factors in an autocrine circuit that supports their malignant growth. In addition, tumor cells can make use of the factors released by normal cells, either spontaneously or under the influence of inductive signals from the neoplastic cells. Inappropriate or excessive release of cytokines may have an important role in the pathophysiology of some clinical features. Thus, neutralization of cytokine biologic activity in vivo could be a therapeutic strategy for treatment of human B-cell neoplasias.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torcia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aldinucci
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carossino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Imreh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins