ABSTRACT ARENA
Cytokines in cancer therapy
THERAPY MOST SPARKLING: All cancers arise from disruption of signaling pathways and cytokines regulate these pathways.
CANCERS CAN be regarded as diseases in which cellular signalling mechanisms have been disrupted, so as to remove the growth and behaviour of the cell from normal constraints. Cytokines are proteins produced by cells in response to a variety of inducing stimuli; they are secreted by their producer cells and then influence the behaviour of target cells. All cancers arise from disruption of signalling pathways which normally control cell growth and differentiation. Many of these pathways are regulated by cytokines. Since surveillance is important in normal suppression of transformed cell growth, stimulation of surveillance by exogenous cytokines might give clinical benefits on top of direct anti-tumour effect. Use of interferons (IFN), a type of cytokines, are most successful against malignancy (hairy cell leukaemia). Chronic myelogenous leukaemia, T-cell derived mycosis fungiodes, AIDS, etc. are also treatable with IFN therapy.
Combination with chemotherapy: There are promising indications that cytokines can be combined with chemotherapy to produce synergetic effects on tumour growth. Growth inhibitory cytokines work via changes in signalling pathways and gene expression. Combination of IFNs with 5-flourouracil is highly synergetic against some colorectal carcinomas.
Receptor mediated antagonists: An alternative to using growth inhibitory cytokines in cancer therapy is to interfere with the actions of positive growth factors, particularly where a tumour is factor dependent for growth. Two strategies are possible: to attack the growth factor with neutralising antibodies or to attack the receptor or antagonise the interaction of growth factor with its receptor.
These new approaches will no doubt be extended to other growth factor receptors in due course providing yet another way in which cytokine biology is exploited in the battle against cancer.
Students are welcome to send abstracts of their research papers, study papers or technical papers in all subjects to this column. The abstracts around 200 words and containing the complete address of the college can be emailed to collegian-@thehindu.co.in or to The City Editor, The Hindu, Begumpet, Hyderabad-16.
Archana Kaushik Y.G.,
TKR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerpet, Hyderabad
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