Affiliation:
1. Department of Bioengineering Graduate School of Engineering The University of Tokyo 7‐3‐1 Hongo Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113–8656 Japan
2. Red Arrow Therapeutics, Inc 7‐3‐1 Hongo Bunkyo‐ku Tokyo 113‐0003 Japan
Abstract
AbstractCytokines can coordinate robust immune responses, holding great promise as therapeutics against infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. In cancer treatment, numerous pro‐inflammatory cytokines have displayed promising efficacy in preclinical studies. However, their clinical application is hindered by poor pharmacokinetics, significant toxicity and unsatisfactory anticancer efficacy. Thus, while IFN‐α and IL‐2 are approved for specific cancer treatments, other cytokines still remain subject of intense investigation. To accelerate the application of cytokines as cancer immunotherapeutics, strategies need to be directed to improve their safety and anticancer performance. In this regard, delivery systems could be used to generate innovative therapies by targeting the cytokines or nucleic acids, such as DNA and mRNA, encoding the cytokines to tumor tissues. This review centers on these innovative delivery strategies for cytokines, summarizing key approaches, such as gene delivery and protein delivery, and critically examining their potential and challenges for clinical translation.
Funder
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Subject
Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,Biomaterials,Bioengineering,Biotechnology