title: Interleukin 21: combination strategies for cancer therapy.
abstract: In the past 20 years researchers have attempted to activate the host immune defence system to kill tumour cells and eradicate cancer. In some cases, the response of patients to immunotherapy has been extremely successful; however, other trials have shown disappointing results, and so there is a clear need for more effective therapies that can effectively adjunct conventional approaches. Interleukin 21 (IL21) is a new immune-stimulating cytokine that has demonstrated antitumour activity in several preclinical models, and has recently undergone Phase I trials in metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Here, we provide an overview of the antitumour effects of IL21 and describe strategies to combine IL21 with other drugs for future cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Pharmacology, Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Måløv, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kresten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skak
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kragh
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hausman
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Pallavur V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21