Tumor necrosis factor: an update on basic research and clinical applications.

Tumor necrosis factor is one of the recently cloned cytokines with pleiotropic effects on normal and malignant cells. Our knowledge about the scope of cells producing or responding to this cytokine has enormously expanded. In critically ill patients with acute hepatic failure, acute graft-versus-host disease, or septic shock, circulating tumor necrosis factor can be measured and useful prognostic correlations do exist. Despite promising in vitro results, early clinical trials with tumor necrosis factor for the treatment of cancer have failed thus far to reveal major antineoplastic activity in cancer patients. However, more clinical trials are necessary, since different routes of administration and combinations with other cytokines may lead to favorable results.