Interleukins 18 and 21: Biology, mechanisms of action toxicity, and clinical activity

• Published in: Current oncology reports Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 114 - 119
• Main Authors: Logan, Theodore F., Robertson, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; Antineoplastic Agents - immunology; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Antitumor activity; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Immune response; Immunity - immunology; Immunity, Innate - immunology; Interleukin-18 - immunology; Interleukin-18 - pharmacology; Interleukin-18 - therapeutic use; Interleukins; Interleukins - immunology; Interleukins - pharmacology; Interleukins - therapeutic use; Kidney cancer; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - immunology; Toxicity; Tumors
• ISSN: 1523-3790; 1534-6269
• DOI: 10.1007/s11912-006-0046-0

Interleukins 18 and 21 have been described, and the effect of each upon immune response and experimental tumors in animals has been the subject of much recent work. Both interleukins have shown antitumor effects in animals, which in some models are striking for their duration, specificity, and ability to protect against rechallenge with the same tumor. These characteristics suggest immunologic involvement in the antitumor response, and several papers suggest involvement of both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. Recent early phase I clinical trials in human cancer patients have demonstrated evidence of clinical response. This review discusses the biology, preclinical animal tumor model data, and early clinical trial findings.