Clinical development of recombinant human interleukin-11 to treat chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia

Recombinant human interleukin-11 stimulates megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro and platelet production in vivo. A clinical program to investigate the use of recombinant human interleukin-11 in patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia began in 1992. These studies show the potential of recombinant human interleukin-11 as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. The other activities of recombinant human interleukin-11, such as its ability to ameliorate mucositis in myelosuppressed animal models, may contribute to its clinical benefits in patients receiving chemotherapy.