Cytokine Profile in Lung Cancer Patients: Anti-Tumor and Oncogenic Cytokines

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Lung cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Cytokines are small proteins that carry messages between cells and are known to play an important role in the body’s response to inflammation and infection. Cytokines are important for immunity in lung cancer. The immune system relies heavily on cytokines which can also be produced in the laboratory for therapeutic use. Cytokine therapy helps the immune system to stop the growth or kill cancer cells including lung cancer cells. High doses of cytokines are required to induce a beneficial response in cancer patients, but doing so leads to many problems, including their short lifespan and toxicity. New technologies are being developed to help improve the targeting of cytokines and alter their side effects. ABSTRACT: Lung cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In recent years, checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (ICI) has emerged as a new treatment. A better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TMJ) or the immune system surrounding the tumor is needed. Cytokines are small proteins that carry messages between cells and are known to play an important role in the body’s response to inflammation and infection. Cytokines are important for immunity in lung cancer. They promote tumor growth (oncogenic cytokines) or inhibit tumor growth (anti-tumour cytokines) by controlling signaling pathways for growth, proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. The immune system relies heavily on cytokines. They can also be produced in the laboratory for therapeutic use. Cytokine therapy helps the immune system to stop the growth or kill cancer cells. Interleukins and interferons are the two types of cytokines used to treat cancer. This article begins by addressing the role of the TMJ and its components in lung cancer. This review also highlights the functions of various cytokines such as interleukins (IL), transforming growth factor (TGF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).