title: IFN-λ cancer immunotherapy: new kid on the block.
abstract: Interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) is a new IFN type, related to IFN-α, that is commonly used in the clinic. However, significant side effects accompanying IFN-α treatment limit enthusiasm for IFN-α. In this review, we discuss the current landscape of IFN-α use in oncology and describe the biologic characteristics of IFN-λ. IFN-λ offers unique advantages, including a more tumor cell selective targeting, lower off-target binding and an ability to generate both innate and adaptive immune responses. IFN-λ has also demonstrated therapeutic benefit in murine cancer models. IFN-λ may be used in clinic as a single agent or in combination with other immunotherapy agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Further clinical trials will be needed to fully elucidate the potential of this novel agent in oncology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.|Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lasfar
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gogas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA.|Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zloza
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA.|Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Howard L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C579163:IFNL4 protein, human
keywords: IFN therapy; IFN-α/λ combination; IFN-λ; immune check point inhibitors