title: Investigations of interferon-lambda for the treatment of cancer.
abstract: Interferon-lambda (IFN-λ), a recently discovered cytokine, overlaps broadly with type I IFN signaling, producing antiviral, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic responses. In comparison to type I IFNs, IFN-λ has a limited spectrum of responsive tissues due to variation in expression of the IFN-λ receptor IFNLR1. Type I IFNs have been investigated for their antitumor effects and used in the clinical setting for a number of different cancers. Given the overlap in signaling and function between IFN-λ and type I IFNs, IFN-λ has also drawn interest for the treatment of cancer. To date, a number of studies using both murine and human models of cancer have investigated the antitumor effects of IFN-λ. These studies have found that IFN-λ is capable of directly targeting cancer cells to reduce their tumorigenicity, induce cell cycle arrest, and cause apoptosis. In addition, IFN-λ has been shown to have indirect effects against cancer cells through immune system responses and immune modulatory effects. This review aims to detail the findings of studies investigating IFN-λ for the treatment of cancer as well as suggest areas of potential interest for future studies.
authors: Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Stiff
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Carson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000276:immunology; D017471:Receptors, Interferon
chemical_list: C579640:IFNLR1 protein, human; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D007372:Interferons