The role of interleukin-2 in the treatment of cancer patients

Recombinant human interleukin-2 became available for clinical use in the mid 1980s. Recent years have seen an enormous amount of clinical research with this cytokine and interleukin-2 has now been registered for use in a number of European countries for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This book is designed to provide the clinical oncologist wishing to use interleukin-2 with a basic background concerning the biology of the agent, a discussion concerning practical aspects, of its clinical use including management of toxicity and an overview of the clinical results together with a description of how this internesting cytokine might be developed in the future.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Interleukin-2 as a single agent: dose, scheduling and optimum immunomodulatory dose.- 3. Interleukin-2 and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells.- 4. Interleukin-2 toxicity: mechanisms and management.- 5. Interleukin-2: biology and immunology.- 6. Interleukin-2 and tumour eradication by cytotoxic T lymphocytes.- 7. Combination treatment with Interleukin-2 and chemotherapeutic agents.- 8. Interleukin-2, lymphocytes and monoclonal antibodies.- 9. Interleukin-2 and other cytokines.- 10. Future prospects for Interleukin-2 therapy.