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Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
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Tumor necrosis factor: renaissance as a cancer therapeutic?

D Daniel1, N S Wilson

  • 1Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. ddaniel@gene.com

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|March 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Researchers are exploring targeted strategies to use tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for cancer treatment, overcoming systemic toxicity issues. This review integrates pre-clinical and clinical data with TNF-alpha signaling to improve anti-tumor efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and related ligands show anti-tumor potential.
  • TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily antibodies are emerging as cancer therapeutics.
  • Systemic delivery of TNF-alpha causes toxicity, necessitating targeted approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review historical and current strategies for using TNF-alpha in cancer therapy.
  • To contextualize targeted delivery methods for circumventing TNF-alpha toxicity.
  • To integrate pre-clinical/clinical data with TNF-alpha signaling for mechanistic understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical and recent studies on TNF-alpha in cancer.
  • Analysis of pre-clinical and clinical trial data.
  • Synopsis of the TNF-alpha signaling network.

Main Results:

  • TNF-alpha and related ligands have been tested for anti-tumor efficacy.
  • Targeted delivery methods are being developed to mitigate TNF-alpha systemic toxicity.
  • Understanding the interplay between cell and tumor biology is crucial.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted strategies offer a promising alternative for localized, effective TNF-alpha delivery in cancer treatment.
  • Further integration of signaling pathways and biological context is needed to optimize TNF-alpha-based therapies.
  • Reconciling cell and tumor biology with TNF-alpha signaling is key to advancing cancer therapeutics.

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