[Interferons, a class of cytokines with a large therapeutic activity range].
Initially discovered as antiviral agents, the interferons (IFNs) proved to be a class of cytokines with multifunctional properties, including inhibition of cell growth and modulation of immune functions. A number of clinical trials were thus carried out in cancer and viral diseases, and IFN-alpha therapy was shown to have a wide range of indications in hematology and dermatology: B-cell malignancies (hairy cell leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma), myeloproliferations (chronic myeloid leukemia, thrombocytosis), cutaneous T lymphoma, basal-cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma. IFN therapy also showed efficacy in viral tumors (condyloma acuminatum and laryngeal papillomatosis) and chronic hepatitis B and C. The antitumoral action of IFN-alpha mainly involves its capacity to inhibit cell proliferation, partly via antagonistic effects on growth factors. The elucidation of IFN-alpha signalling pathway(s) leading to gene activation, a better understanding of the interactions between IFN-alpha and cytokine network, and the development of combination therapy with other biological treatments or chemotherapy should greatly improve the clinical use of IFNs.
Billard
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Unité 365 INSERM, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
D016207:Cytokines; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007372:Interferons