title: Immunomodulatory and antitumor effects of interleukin-21 in patients with renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-21 is a class I cytokine with sequence homology to the IL-2 cytokine superfamily. IL-21 signals through a heterodimer of a unique IL-21 receptor and the common gamma-chain cytokine receptor. Preclinical murine models suggested strong antitumor activity of IL-21 in renal cell carcinoma, melanoma and other tumor models. IL-21 antitumor activity was superior to IL-2 in these tumor models. A Phase I clinical trial of IL-21 in humans with metastatic renal cell carcinoma or melanoma began in May 2004. Clinical regressions were observed in renal cell carcinoma. Preliminary immunological and clinical findings of patients receiving IL-21 will be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, 4805 NE Glisan Street #5F40, Portland, Oregon 97213, USA. brendan.curti@providence.org
authors.forename: Brendan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Curti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21