[Cytokine therapy]

Cytokines, mediators of intercellular communication, penetrate as a new therapeutic group in to haematology, oncology, immunology and other disciplines. Recently two main spheres of indication of wider clinical use are in the foreground: 1. treatment of leukaemias and advanced solid tumours (interferons, interleukin-2, tumour-necrosis factor and others) and 2. treatment of impaired haematopoiesis (in clinical practice in particular erythropoietin, granulocyte-macrophage and granulocyte colonies stimulating factor). Other possibilities are offered by cytokines in the treatment of viral diseases (in addition to hepatitis B and C, perspectively also AIDS), inborn immunodeficiencies, progressive systemic sclerosis and other indications. In particular in oncological diseases, contrary to original assumptions, monotherapy with cytokines will not be greatly extended and a combination of cytokines with classical treatment will be used. The limiting factor in addition to cost is the considerable toxicity of some cytokines which calls for alternative routes of administration (local, compartmental etc).