TNF: a moonlighting protein at the interface between cancer and infection

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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
11:12

Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies

Published on: September 13, 2024

Harald Hundsberger1, Alexander Verin, Christoph Wiesner

  • 1Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, Krems, Austria.

Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library
|May 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) shows potent anti-cancer effects but causes toxicity. New strategies aim to enhance TNF therapy for broader cancer treatment while minimizing side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) exhibits significant anti-tumor activity, particularly when combined with Interferon-gamma or melphalan.
  • Systemic administration of TNF is limited by severe toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, hindering its use in cancer patients.
  • Current methods like isolated limb/liver perfusion offer localized treatment but have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore novel strategies for sensitizing tumor cells to TNF.
  • To reduce the systemic and liver toxicity associated with TNF therapy.
  • To investigate the potential of TNF for broader systemic cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent developments in TNF-based cancer therapy.
  • Analysis of strategies to enhance tumor cell sensitivity to TNF.
  • Exploration of methods to mitigate TNF-induced toxicity.

Main Results:

  • Development of strategies to sensitize tumor cells to TNF.
  • Identification of approaches to reduce systemic and liver toxicity.
  • Potential use of the TNF lectin-like domain to reduce pulmonary edema.

Conclusions:

  • New strategies hold promise for overcoming TNF's toxicity limitations.
  • These advancements could enable wider systemic application of TNF in cancer treatment.
  • TNF may see renewed interest for systemic cancer therapy.

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