title: Cytokine therapy in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokines provide important intercellular signals in inflammation, immunity and tumor and endothelial cell biology. Several cytokines have therapeutic potential when delivered exogenously alone or in combinations with chemotherapy or other biological agents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize current data on the biology and therapeutic use of human cytokines in malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review focuses on the most important physiological and pathological functions of each cytokine and a unifying concept for its potential role in human malignancy based on preclinical models and current published literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin-2 is the model cytokine for the study of other cytokines that have similar or distinct properties with potential for superior therapeutic uses. Ongoing studies of cytokine networks involved in normal and pathological processes, along with enhanced knowledge of mechanisms of counterregulation and resistance, will guide future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center, Division of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91001, USA. kmargolin@coh.org
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Margolin
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines