title: [The potential of interleukin-12 for use in cancer therapy].
abstract: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine that exerts immunoregulatory effects on T cells and natural killer cells, playing a unique role in promoting type 1 T helper cell responses and, thereby, cell-mediated immunity. IL-12 has been shown to exert striking therapeutic effects at nontoxic doses in mouse tumor models and in mouse models of a variety of infectious diseases and airway inflammation. In mouse tumor models, the therapeutic effects of IL-12 have been shown to result from its immunoenhancing activity, requiring T cells and IFN-gamma. Administration of IL-12 can result in antiangiogenic effects that may also contribute to its antitumor activity in some models. Enhanced antitumor effects may be achieved by administering IL-12 in combination with certain other cytokines or with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The striking therapeutic effects of IL-12 in these preclinical models have led to the initiation of clinical trials to examine the potential therapeutic activity of IL-12 in human cancer patients and in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection or with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infections.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Inflammation/Autoimmune Diseases, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gately
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brunda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma