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Biological Response Modifiers Programme and cancer chemotherapy
Abstract:
The Biological Response Modifiers Programme (BRMP) is a comprehensive programme of the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the therapeutic effect of biological substances that might be useful in the treatment of cancer. Immunomodulation agents, interferons, cytokines, growth and maturation factors, antitumour effector cells and antibodies, and chalones are all potential biological response modifiers (BRM). The BRMP has a biologic preclinical evaluation capability whereby new agents can be evaluated as potential BRM in preclinical models. Effective biological response modifying activity in preclinical models with a therapeutic efficacy in cancer is a requirement for an agent to continue on into clinical testing. Initial results with interferon, thymic factors and other immune modulators are interesting but very preliminary. These agents are being tested for the ability to alter biological responses as well as for toxic and therapeutic effects. Optimization of the biological response modification capability may be predictive for therapeutic efficacy. Purified cytokines, specific tumour-associated antigens, and monoclonal antibody directed toward antigenic specificiteis on the cancer cell all provide exciting avenues for future investigation. Components of the BRMP will be described and preliminary results with selected BRM will be presented. The interaction between BRM and cancer chemotherapy should be investigated further. Certain cytokines are known to enhance bone-marrow-stem cell function and many of these may be useful in conjunction with cancer chemotherapy to lessen the toxic on normal cell populations often encountered with chemotherapy.
Insights
The National Cancer Institute
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The National Cancer Institute's Biological Response Modifiers Programme (BRMP) evaluates biological substances for cancer treatment.
- Potential biological response modifiers (BRM) include immunomodulators, interferons, cytokines, and antibodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the therapeutic potential of biological response modifiers (BRM) in cancer treatment.
- To evaluate BRM efficacy in preclinical models as a prerequisite for clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Preclinical evaluation of novel agents as potential BRM.
- Testing BRM for their ability to alter biological responses, including toxic and therapeutic effects.
- Investigating the predictive value of optimizing BRM activity for therapeutic efficacy.
Main Results:
- Preliminary results with interferon, thymic factors, and immune modulators are promising but require further investigation.
- Ongoing research focuses on purified cytokines, tumor-associated antigens, and monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy.
Conclusions:
- BRM show potential in cancer treatment, with ongoing research exploring various agents and their mechanisms.
- Further investigation into the interaction between BRM and chemotherapy is warranted, particularly for cytokines that enhance bone-marrow-stem cell function.