Tumour necrosis factor and cancer.
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a major inflammatory cytokine that was first identified for its ability to induce rapid haemorrhagic necrosis of experimental cancers. When efforts to harness this anti-tumour activity in cancer treatments were underway, a paradoxical tumour-promoting role of TNF became apparent. Now that links between inflammation and cancer are appreciated, is TNF a target or a therapeutic in malignant disease -- or both?
Balkwill
Frances
F
Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, Institute of Cancer, Barts, UK. Frances.balkwill@cancer.org.uk