TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a polypeptide cytokine, the native production of which is identified in vivo after a variety of stimuli. Although the use of recombinant TNF held early promise in cancer therapy in experimental models, this has not been confirmed by clinical trials partly because of toxicity. TNF has a physiological role as a mediator of the inflammatory response in a variety of diseases and as a mediator of endotoxic shock. Excessive production of TNF may be deleterious to the host and mechanisms to counteract TNF production or its effects may have a therapeutic role.