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Biologic and clinical significance of cytokine production in B‐cell malignancies
Author(s) -
Torcia Maria,
Aldinucci Donatella,
Carossino Anna Maria,
Imreh Farhad,
Cozzolino Federico
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1989.tb01490.x
Subject(s) - autocrine signalling , cytokine , immunology , biology , in vivo , cancer research , hormone , pathophysiology , cell growth , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , endocrinology , biochemistry
Cytokines are a group of polypeptide hormones endowed with pleiotropic biological properties. Normal B lymphocytes produce a number of these factors that subserve important regulatory functions in the combined processes of proliferation and differentiation. Also neoplastic B cells can release cytokines and, simultaneously, respond to the same factors in an autocrine circuit that supports their malignant growth. In addition, tumor cells can make use of the factors released by normal cells, either spontaneously or under the influence of inductive signals from the neoplastic cells. Inappropriate or excessive release of cytokines may have an important role in the pathophysiology of some clinical features. Thus, neutralization of cytokine biologic activity in vivo could be a therapeutic strategy for treatment of human B‐cell neoplasias.