Biotechnology: its impact on medicine and oncology

Biotechnology has been fundamental to exploration and manipulation of life structures and processes at the molecular level. Regulation of expression of specific genes has impacted on understanding of cancer development and immunopathologic diseases. An even greater impact has been the production of new therapeutic molecules. Cytokines have been produced by recombinant DNA technology and are established as effective therapeutic modalities for cancer and infectious diseases. High quality pharmaceutical molecules have been produced which can substantially regulate cell function. Interferons typify this progress and are now licensed for both viral and neoplastic disease in more than 43 countries around the world. It seems certain that by the year 2000, the impact of biotechnology on human medicine will even be wider than that of today. Findings of biotechnology will have implications not only for advancement of human health but also will create debate regarding appropriate use.