Cytokines are proteins used by immune cells to communicate with each other and with cells in their environment. The pleiotropic effects of cytokine networks are determined by which cells express cytokines and which cells express cytokine receptors, with downstream outcomes that can differ based on cell type and environmental cues. Certain cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-γ, have been clearly linked to anti-tumor immunity, while others, such as the innate inflammatory cytokines, promote oncogenesis. Here we provide an overview of the functional roles of cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. Although we have a sophisticated understanding of cytokine networks, therapeutically targeting cytokine pathways in cancer has been challenging. We discuss current progress in cytokine blockade, cytokine-based therapies, and engineered cytokine therapeutics as emerging cancer treatments of interest.

中文翻译：

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 癌症中的细胞因子


细胞因子是免疫细胞用来相互交流以及与环境中细胞进行交流的蛋白质。细胞因子网络的多效性作用取决于哪些细胞表达细胞因子，哪些细胞表达细胞因子受体，下游结果可能因细胞类型和环境线索而异。某些细胞因子，如干扰素 （IFN） -γ，与抗肿瘤免疫明显相关，而其他细胞因子，如先天炎性炎性细胞因子，则促进肿瘤发生。在这里，我们概述了细胞因子在肿瘤微环境中的功能作用。尽管我们对细胞因子网络有深入的了解，但癌症中细胞因子通路的治疗靶向一直具有挑战性。我们讨论了细胞因子阻断、基于细胞因子的疗法和工程细胞因子疗法作为感兴趣的新兴癌症治疗方法的当前进展。