Interferon-alpha in tumor immunity and immunotherapy

F Belardelli, M Ferrantini, E Proietti… - Cytokine & growth factor …, 2002 - Elsevier
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to type I IFN, currently used in
cancer patients. Early studies in mouse tumor models have shown the importance of host
immune mechanisms in the generation of a long-lasting antitumor response to type I IFN.
Recent studies have underscored new immunomodulatory effects of IFN-α, including
activities on T and dendritic cells, which may explain IFN-induced tumor immunity. Reports
on new immune correlates in cancer patients responding to IFN-α represent additional …