Biomolecules & Therapeutics

The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology (한국응용약물학회)
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Current Development Status of Cytokines for Cancer Immunotherapy

  • Kyoung Song (College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University)
  • Received : 2023.11.06
  • Accepted : 2023.12.06
  • Published : 2024.01.01
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Abstract

Cytokines influence the overall cancer immune cycle by triggering tumor antigen expression, antigen presenting, immune cell priming and activation, effector immune cell recruitment and infiltration to cancer, and cancer killing in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, cytokines have been considered potential anti-cancer immunotherapy, and cytokine-based anti-cancer therapies continue to be an active area of research and development in the field of cancer immunotherapy, with ongoing clinical trials exploring new strategies to improve efficacy and safety. In this review, we examine past and present clinical developments for major anticancer cytokines, including interleukins (IL-2, IL-15, IL-12, IL-21), interferons, TGF-beta, and GM-CSF. We identify the current status and changes in the technology platform being applied to cytokine-based immune anti-cancer therapeutics. Through this, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of cytokine-based immune anti-cancer treatments in the current immunotherapy market and suggest development directions to enhance the clinical use of cytokines as immuno-anticancer drugs in the future.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Duksung Women`s University Research Grants 2021 (3000005804).

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