Interferons: rationale for clinical trials in neoplastic disease. 1979

E C Borden

Interferons, cell glycoproteins synthesized in response to viral infections and various nonviral inducers, have proved therapeutically effective for viral infections in experimental models and in humans. Current evidence suggests interferons may also prove effective as antitumor agents in humans. Potent effects on cellular function result from interferons. Cell surface structure and enzyme levels are altered. Immunologic responses thought to be important in tumor immunity are augmented. Interferons have antiproliferative effects on the replication of normal and neoplastic cells. Interferons are effective in animals against tumors of both viral and nonviral origin. Clinical trials in cancer have been limited by the availability and cost of human interferons. However, results in small numbers of patients have been encouraging. This paper review experimental and clinical findings regarding the rationale for use of interferons in neoplastic disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
D008223 Lymphoma A general term for various neoplastic diseases of the lymphoid tissue. Germinoblastoma,Lymphoma, Malignant,Reticulolymphosarcoma,Sarcoma, Germinoblastic,Germinoblastic Sarcoma,Germinoblastic Sarcomas,Germinoblastomas,Lymphomas,Lymphomas, Malignant,Malignant Lymphoma,Malignant Lymphomas,Reticulolymphosarcomas,Sarcomas, Germinoblastic
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D009858 Oncogenic Viruses Viruses that produce tumors. Tumor Viruses,Oncogenic Virus,Tumor Virus,Virus, Oncogenic,Virus, Tumor,Viruses, Oncogenic,Viruses, Tumor
D001859 Bone Neoplasms Tumors or cancer located in bone tissue or specific BONES. Bone Cancer,Cancer of Bone,Cancer of the Bone,Neoplasms, Bone,Bone Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Bone
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012516 Osteosarcoma A sarcoma originating in bone-forming cells, affecting the ends of long bones. It is the most common and most malignant of sarcomas of the bones, and occurs chiefly among 10- to 25-year-old youths. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Sarcoma, Osteogenic,Osteogenic Sarcoma,Osteosarcoma Tumor,Osteogenic Sarcomas,Osteosarcoma Tumors,Osteosarcomas,Sarcomas, Osteogenic,Tumor, Osteosarcoma,Tumors, Osteosarcoma
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