A Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies on Therapeutic Strategies Using Interleukin-12 in Cancer Therapy and the Protective Role of Interleukin-12 in Hematological Recovery in Chemoradiotherapy

Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a heterodimeric glycoprotein with α and β subunits covalently bonded with a disulfide bond, is a potent anticancer agent. Its action is accomplished through a linkage of the adaptive and innate immune responses. IL-12 can promote the recovery of the hematopoietic system after cancer chemoradiotherapy by stimulating the physiological processes of stem cells, including cell proliferation and differentiation, reconstitution of hematopoietic function, and peripheral blood count recovery. We review therapeutic strategies using IL-12 in clinical studies, including single-agent and combination strategies in hematological tumors and solid tumors, and studies on the protective effects of IL-12 in chemoradiotherapy. This review highlights promising therapeutic strategies based on the anticancer role of IL-12 and the potential protective effects of IL-12 for cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.