The added value of type i interferons to cytotoxic treatments of cancer

Although the role of type I interferons (IFNs) in the protection against viral infections has been known for decades, their role in cancer development and treatment is still under deep investigation. Type I IFNs are a cytokine family (comprising IFN- α, IFN-β and IFN-ω) endowed with pleiotropic effects, including dendritic cell (DC) development/activation [1,2], T helper (Th)1 cell differentiation, T cell memory turn over [3] and natural killer (NK) cell activation [4]. IFN-α, which includes several subtypes, and IFN-β are already in use in the clinic for the treatment of neoplastic and autoimmune diseases, respectively [5].
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Source Type: research