title: Tumor necrosis factor.
abstract: A century ago it was noted that a bacterial infection sometimes causes the regression of cancer. In 1975 the author found an explanation: the infection stimulates the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which has anticancer activity. Now TNF, an important regulator of inflammation and immunity, is in clinical trials as an anticancer drug.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000266:history; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha