Interleukin-2

Abstract

Interleukin-2 is an autocrine cytokine that activates T cell, B cell, NK cells, monocytes and oligodendrocytes. IL-2 binds to a heterotrimeric receptor and can mediate anti-tumor activity through expansion of cytotoxic effector T and NK cells and can mediate immune suppression through expansion of regulatory suppressor T cells. The factors that mediate clinical outcomes of IL-2 treatment are incompletely understood. Nonetheless, IL-2 has shown therapeutic benefit with FDA approvals for the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and melanoma. An improved understanding of the biology of IL-2 and the ability to combine IL-2 with other immunotherapy agents suggest that IL-2 will continue to be a therapeutically useful cytokine. The identification of predictive biomarkers for IL-2 response is another high priority for the field.