title: Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition with inflixiMAB in cancer therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a central cytotoxic and proinflammatory cytokine. Research on the benefits of TNF-alpha inhibition as a form of therapy has focused almost exclusively on autoimmune, inflammatory disorders. InflixiMAB, a chimeric antibody to human TNF-alpha, was recently approved for the management of Crohn disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The potential applications of inflixiMAB in the management of cancer are just beginning to be explored. This article reviews the biology, mechanism of action, pharmacology, and toxicity of inflixiMAB. Existing clinical experience and inflixiMAB's potential role as an immunosuppressant and antitumor agent in the management of cancer are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Houston 77030, USA. dcouriel@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Couriel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giralt
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Champlin
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab