Tumor necrosis factor as an antineoplastic agent: pitfalls and promises

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The discovery of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) offered new therapeutic possibilities for cancer treatment.
• Preclinical studies confirmed TNF's antitumor capabilities in vitro and in animal models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNF as an antineoplastic agent.
• To explore novel strategies for mitigating TNF-induced toxicity in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Administration of recombinant TNF in preclinical and clinical settings.
• Investigation of systemic versus localized TNF delivery.
• Development of combination therapies and targeted gene therapy approaches for TNF delivery.

Main Results:

• Systemic TNF administration in early clinical trials led to severe, infection-like side effects due to its broad action on immune cells.
• Refined approaches, including local administration and combination therapies, show promise in reducing TNF toxicity.

Conclusions:

• While systemic TNF therapy is limited by toxicity, localized administration, combination regimens, and gene therapy represent promising avenues for its use in cancer treatment.
• Further clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of these refined TNF-based strategies for various cancers.