Biological agents interferons

Interferon -biologic agent -flu-like symptoms-malaise, myalgias, fatigue, fever -nausea and vomiting—mild -anorexia -bone marrow suppression -mucocutaneous effects (stomatitis, mucositis) -cardiovascular effects (arrhythmias, hypotension) -mental status changes (confusion, lethargy, psychosis) -renal impairment (proteinuria) -elevation in transaminase levels... 

Agents which enhance the host s response against neoplasias or force them to differentiate are termed biological response modifiers. Examples include interleukin 2 which is used to treat renal cell carcinoma, interferon a which is active against hematologic neoplasias, and tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid) which is a powerful inducer of differentiation in certain leukemia cells by acting on retinoid receptors. Side effects include influenza like symptoms, changes in blood pressure and edema. 

Cytokines and biological response modifiers represent a broad class of therapeutic agents that modify the hosts response to cancer or cancer therapies. The enormous body information about their clinical uses and their side effects is beyond the scope of this essay that can only give illustrative examples. For an up-to-date information the reader can resort to reference [5]. As many as 33 different interleukins are known and the list continues to grow IL-2 used in the treatment of kidney cancer is one example. Interferon alpha is used for chronic myelogenous leukeia, hairy cell leukaemia and Kaposi s sarcoma. Interferons are also used in the treatment of chronic infections such as viral hepatitis. Tumor necrosis factor (alpha), G/GM/M-CSF, and several other cellular factors are used in treatment of various cancers. Many of these cytokines produce serious side effects that limit their use. 

Agents such as the interferons, interleuklin-2, and monoclonal antibodies are classified as biologic re-... 

Interferons represent a class of proteins with various biological properties.338339 These include the ability to inhibit intracellular replication of viruses and certain parasites,340 the ability to inhibit replication of certain types of tumor cells in vitro, 41 and the ability to modulate immune responses in vitro and in vivo in a positive or negative manner.339 Of the interferons, interferon-y (IFN-y) is thought to be a more effective immunomodulary agent and a more effective inhibitor of division of certain tumor cells in vitro than other interferons.339 One mechanism of IFN-y-mediated growth inhibition is the stimulation of cellular oxidation of tryptophan by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.342 343... 

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