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Interferon alpha in combination with other biologics: the scientific rationale
Author(s) -
Herberman Ronald B.,
Ernstoff Marc S.,
Kirkwood John M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1991.tb08126.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , immunology , monoclonal antibody , alpha (finance) , interferon gamma , cancer research , alpha interferon , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immune system , medicine , interferon , biology , antibody , nursing , patient satisfaction , biochemistry , in vitro , construct validity
Interferon alpha (IFNα) has widely pleiotropic effects, on both the immune system and tumour cells, and any of these effects might provide the basis for additive or synergistic effects when administered in combination with other biologics. Some of the main sites of action to consider include the ability of IFNα to: inhibit the growth of tumour cells; induce differentiation, and/or MHC expression on tumour cells; and stimulate the activation and/or differentiation of natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and cytotoxic macrophages. Other biologics with similar sites of action might be expected to provide additional effects when combined with IFNα, and factors with other, complementary anti‐tumour effects might synergize. Potentially important therapeutic effects have been observed when IFNα has been combined with IFNγ, interleukin 2, tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 1, monoclonal antibodies, and retinoids. The development of therapeutic strategies on the basis of hypotheses as to how IFNα might effectively interact with another biologic, coupled with careful assessment of effects on the tumour cells and/or serial monitoring of immunologic parameters, might be expected to lead most expeditiously to successful therapeutic combinations of IFNα with other biologics.