title: Mechanisms and applications of interleukins in cancer immunotherapy.
abstract: Over the past years, advances in cancer immunotherapy have resulted in innovative and novel approaches in molecular cancer diagnostics and cancer therapeutic procedures. However, due to tumor heterogeneity and inter-tumoral discrepancy in tumor immunity, the clinical benefits are quite restricted. The goal of this review is to evaluate the major cytokines-interleukins involved in cancer immunotherapy and project their basic biochemical and clinical applications. Emphasis will be given to new cytokines in pre-clinical development, and potential directions for future investigation using cytokines. Furthermore, current interleukin-based approaches and clinical trial data from combination cancer immunotherapies will also be discussed. It appears that continuously increasing comprehension of cytokine-induced effects, cancer stemness, immunoediting, immune-surveillance as well as understanding of molecular interactions emerging in the tumor microenvironment and involving microRNAs, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammation, and DNA methylation processes may hold much promise in improving anti-tumor immunity. To this end, the emerging in-depth knowledge supports further studies on optimal synergistic combinations and additional adjuvant therapies to realize the full potential of cytokines as immunotherapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of General Biology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. anestaki@auth.gr.
authors.forename: Doxakis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anestakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. spetanid@auth.gr.
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petanidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Halkidiki, Poligiros 63100, Greece. roskal@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalyvas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. christiane.nday@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Christiane M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nday
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. tsaveolga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tsave
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. efi.kioseoglou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Efrosini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kioseoglou
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. salif@auth.gr.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salifoglou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D035683:MicroRNAs