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. Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-5 Interleukin-2 as single agent....Pages 7-28 Interleukin-2 and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells....Pages 29-43 Interleukin-2 toxicity: mechanisms and management....Pages 45-69 Interleukin-2 biology and immunology....Pages 71-83 Interleukin-2 and tumour eradication by cytotoxic T lymphocytes....Pages 85-94 Combination treatment with Interleukin-2 and chemotherapeutic agents....Pages 95-121 Interleukin-2, lymphocytes and monoclonal antibodies....Pages 123-140 Interleukin-2 and other cytokines....Pages 141-167 Future prospects for Interleukin-2 therapy....Pages 169-185 Back Matter....Pages 187-191 Provides the clinical oncologist wishing to use interleukin-2 with a basic background on 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.