Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins: applications in cancer therapy.
BACKGROUND
Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins consist of cytokines fused to an antibody to improve antibody-targeted cancer immunotherapy. These molecules have the capacity to enhance the tumoricidal activity of the antibodies and/or activate a secondary antitumor immune response.


OBJECTIVE
To review the strategies used to develop antibody-cytokine fusion proteins and their in vitro and in vivo properties, including preclinical and clinical studies focusing on IL-2, IL-12 and GM-CSF.


METHODS
Articles were found by searching databases such as PubMed and Clinical Trials of the US National Institutes of Health.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple antibody-cytokine fusion proteins have demonstrated significant antitumor activity as direct therapeutics or as adjuvants of cancer vaccines in preclinical studies, paving the way for their clinical evaluation.
Ortiz-Sánchez
Elizabeth
E
University of California, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Helguera
Gustavo
G
Daniels
Tracy R
TR
Penichet
Manuel L
ML
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins