Interferon Therapy in Lung Cancer: Current Perspectives

Title:Interferon Therapy in Lung Cancer: Current Perspectives

Volume: 12 Issue: 4

Author(s): Debosree Ghosh and Pratap Parida*

Affiliation:

• Centre for Studies in Biotechnology, Dibrugarh University, Assam,India

Keywords: Interferon, lung cancer, pulmonary cancer cells, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract: Introduction: The biggest challenge in the development of anti-cancer drugs is to target and kill only the cancer cells without harming the normal body cells. Interferons (IFNs) are naturally produced by our body cells in response to pathological compromisation and these chemical messengers render the neighboring normal cells resistant to similar type of infection. Interferons regulate angiogenesis, have immunomodulatory capacities and are hence a fantastic therapeutic choice against cancer.

Material: Interferon supplement or its use in combination with other anti-cancer drugs are thought of and investigated around the globe with some promising results on hand. Interferons have been found to be effective in reducing the growth of tumor and also in triggering the anti-tumor immune response in humans.

Method: Interferon therapy is being found to be effective against various types of cancer including lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to deal clinically as it remains asymptomatic till metastasis in most of the cases. Depending on the appearance of pulmonary cancer cells under microscope, lung cancer has primarily been classified into small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Conclusion: Interferons have been found to be effective in both types of lung cancer even in advanced stage. IFN α & β (type I IFN) have been extensively tried in various experimental models of lung cancer and clinical cases and have been found to be effective while other types and sub types of interferon like IFN gamma have also been tried in several cases of lung cancer and have yielded varied results. Studies are still in progress and we are looking ahead for further achievements related to potential and effective interferon therapy against pulmonary malignancies.

Cite this article as:

Ghosh Debosree and Parida Pratap *, Interferon Therapy in Lung Cancer: Current Perspectives, Current Cancer Therapy Reviews 2016; 12 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573394713666170316124158

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573394713666170316124158	Print ISSN 1573-3947
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-6301