[Hematopoietic growth factors]

Hematopoietic growth factors represent a subgroup of the cytokines and are also called colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) because of their effects in bone marrow culture. These glycoproteins are produced by a large number of cells and serve to transmit signals within the hematopoietic and the immune system either by themselves or by inducing the production and the release of other cytokines. As their genes have been cloned by molecular biology in the last year, these "recombinant" factors can be produced in large amounts for clinical trials. Cytokines make possible completely new therapy concepts by enabling medicine both to intervene in and modulate the body's own physiological processes. Therapy studies conducted with hematopoietic growth factors to date are encouraging and mostly demonstrate only tolerable dose-dependent side effects. In contrast to the maximal tolerable dose usually applied for cytotoxic therapy regimens, this "biological therapy" aims to a minimal effective dose, known e.g. from interferon. The following article will attempt to provide an insight into the first results of clinical trials and in future possibilities in the clinical application of these factors.