Biomaterial Database

Principles in the biomodulation of cytotoxic drugs by interferons. 1992

S Wadler, and E L Schwartz

Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467.

The interferons (IFNs) were identified as novel, endogenous antiviral agents in 1957. Shortly thereafter, antiproliferative and immunostimulatory activities were identified for these compounds. Based on these observations, partially purified IFNs entered clinical trials in the 1970s and recombinant IFNs in 1980. IFNs have demonstrated important clinical activity in hairy cell leukemia, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma as monotherapy. Shortly after their introduction into clinical trials, however, preclinical studies demonstrated synergistic interactions between IFNs and cytotoxic drugs. Numerous preclinical trials have demonstrated a broad spectrum of interactions between IFNs and at least 20 cytotoxic agents both in vitro and in vivo. Early clinical trials suggest a benefit to combinations of fluorouracil and recombinant interferon alfa in refractory gastrointestinal malignancies. Combinations of IFNs and cytotoxic agents deserve further investigations; however, different principles apply for combining IFNs with cytotoxic drugs than for the design of combination chemotherapy regimens.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007111	Immunity, Cellular	Manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role.	Cell-Mediated Immunity,Cellular Immune Response,Cell Mediated Immunity,Cell-Mediated Immunities,Cellular Immune Responses,Cellular Immunities,Cellular Immunity,Immune Response, Cellular,Immune Responses, Cellular,Immunities, Cell-Mediated,Immunities, Cellular,Immunity, Cell-Mediated,Response, Cellular Immune
D007372	Interferons	Proteins secreted by vertebrate cells in response to a wide variety of inducers. They confer resistance against many different viruses, inhibit proliferation of normal and malignant cells, impede multiplication of intracellular parasites, enhance macrophage and granulocyte phagocytosis, augment natural killer cell activity, and show several other immunomodulatory functions.	Interferon
D002453	Cell Cycle	The complex series of phenomena, occurring between the end of one CELL DIVISION and the end of the next, by which cellular material is duplicated and then divided between two daughter cells. The cell cycle includes INTERPHASE, which includes G0 PHASE; G1 PHASE; S PHASE; and G2 PHASE, and CELL DIVISION PHASE.	Cell Division Cycle,Cell Cycles,Cell Division Cycles,Cycle, Cell,Cycle, Cell Division,Cycles, Cell,Cycles, Cell Division,Division Cycle, Cell,Division Cycles, Cell
D004347	Drug Interactions	The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.	Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000970	Antineoplastic Agents	Substances that inhibit or prevent the proliferation of NEOPLASMS.	Anticancer Agent,Antineoplastic,Antineoplastic Agent,Antineoplastic Drug,Antitumor Agent,Antitumor Drug,Cancer Chemotherapy Agent,Cancer Chemotherapy Drug,Anticancer Agents,Antineoplastic Drugs,Antineoplastics,Antitumor Agents,Antitumor Drugs,Cancer Chemotherapy Agents,Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Agents,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Drug,Agent, Anticancer,Agent, Antineoplastic,Agent, Antitumor,Agent, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Anticancer,Agents, Antineoplastic,Agents, Antitumor,Agents, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Chemotherapy Agent, Cancer,Chemotherapy Agents, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drug, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drugs, Cancer,Drug, Antineoplastic,Drug, Antitumor,Drug, Cancer Chemotherapy,Drug, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Drugs, Antineoplastic,Drugs, Antitumor,Drugs, Cancer Chemotherapy
D013940	Thymidylate Synthase	An enzyme of the transferase class that catalyzes the reaction 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and dUMP to dihydrofolate and dTMP in the synthesis of thymidine triphosphate. (From Dorland, 27th ed) EC 2.1.1.45.	Thymidylate Synthetase,Synthase, Thymidylate,Synthetase, Thymidylate
D015972	Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in neoplastic tissue.	Neoplastic Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Neoplastic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Neoplastic