Interferons

Interferons were among the first cytokines to be studied clinically in recombinant form in the 1980s, beginning a new era of pharmacotherapy in internal medicine. Interferons were soon employed in the treatment of tumors and it was shown that those hematopoietic neoplasias which had been difficult to treat with chemotherapy responded well to interferon treatment. In the present volume, renowned international authors update the importance of interferons in various fields of internal medicine, dermatology, and urology. The book also contains a general introduction into the classification, structure, and mode of action of interferons. Further chapters discuss the range of side effects of these substances and point out possible focuses of further clinical interferon research. Interferons were among the first cytokines to be studied clinically in recombinant form in the 1980s, beginning a new era of pharmacotherapy in internal medicine. Although originally discovered as antiviral substances, interferons were soon employed in the treatment of tumors due to their antiproliferative, differentiation-inducing, and immunomodulatory properties. It was shown that those hematopoietic neoplasias which have been difficult to treat with chemotherapy, such as hairy cell leukemia, responded well to interferon treatment. The abundant data from 15 years of studying the significance of this therapeutic approach in hematooncology and other medical disciplines impressively demonstrate that progress in medicine is not the result of spectacular individual investigations, but rather results from longterm clinical research.§These are only preliminary findings, however, since still today there are many questions open pertaining to the clinical application of interferons - in particular their possible cumulative effect in combination with other cytokines or cytostatic drugs.§In the present volume, renowned international authors update the importance of interferons in various fields of internal medicine, dermatology, and urology. The book also contains an introduction to the genetics of the interferon system. Further chapters discuss the range of side effects of these substances and point out possible focuses for further clinical interferon research.