Antitumor effects of interleukin-12 in pre-clinical and early clinical studies (Review).
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) previously called cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor (CLMF) or NK cell stimulatory factor (NKSF) is a recently characterized heterodimeric cytokine composed of two subunits. Although identified no more than 10 years ago IL-12 has already proved efficacious in numerous pre-clinical tumor immunotherapy studies. Animal studies revealed that IL-12 has powerful antitumor, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activities and seems to be less toxic than other immunotherapeutics such as interferons or IL-2. A number of pre-clinical studies with IL-12 prompted the evaluation of this cytokine in the treatment of human cancers. Results of phase I and early phase II clinical trials have already been reported and these are described here together with a brief discussion concerning IL-12-related toxicities and potential methods of their prevention.
Golab
J
J
Department of Immunology, Institute of Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland.
Zagozdzon
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12