Tumor necrosis factor α in the onset and progression of leukemia.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), originally described as an anti-neoplastic cytokine, has been found, in apparent contradiction to its name, to play an important role in promoting the development and progression of malignant disease. Targeting TNF-α with TNF antagonists has elicited an objective response in certain solid tumors in phase I and II clinical trials. This review focuses on the relationship of TNF-α expressed by leukemia cells and adverse clinical features of leukemia. TNF-α is involved in all steps of leukemogenesis, including cellular transformation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and extramedullary infiltration. TNF-α is also an important factor in the tumor microenvironment and assists leukemia cells in immune evasion, survival, and resistance to chemotherapy. TNF-α may be a potent target for leukemia therapy.
Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Xiaoxi
X
Zhou
Department of Immunology, Basic Medical College, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Zhuoya
Z
Li
Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China. Electronic address: jfzhou@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
Jianfeng
J
Zhou
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002470:Cell Survival; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha