Interferon-gamma therapy: evaluation of routes of administration and delivery systems.

Although different routes and delivery systems have been used to deliver interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for the treatment of a variety of viral and neoplastic diseases, little has been reported regarding the most efficient and least toxic routes and drug delivery modes required to achieve these goals. To have a greater understanding of the best strategies to use to administer this cytokine in an efficient, stable, and safe manner, this review details aspects of IFN-gamma concerning its mechanism of action, physical properties, and pharmacokinetics. One important conclusion that is drawn from this analysis is that a consistent, local concentration of IFN-gamma is necessary to achieve an optimal therapeutic response. A critical discussion covering the advantages and limitations of the currently used methodologies to deliver IFN-gamma in such a fashion is presented. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.