The Role of Cytokine IL-2 In Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer remains a leading global cause of mortality, distinguished by its propensity for rapid proliferation, metastatic potential, and the ability to affect various organs with ease. If left untreated, it may lead to nerve compression, rupture of blood vessels, multi-organ failure, and may ultimately lead to the patient's death. The ability of immunotherapy to block signaling pathways that inhibit immune cell activation, enhance and amplify anti-tumor responses, or increase the amount of anti-tumor response cells makes it an important weapon in the fight against cancer. Among the key domains of cancer immunotherapy research, harnessing cytokines to invigorate anti-tumor reactions in cancer patients ranks as one of the foremost areas, given cytokines' capacity to regulate the host's immune reaction against cancer cells. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a recognized T-cell growth factor that has been used to treat metastatic melanoma. While extensive research has substantiated IL-2's potential in cancer therapy by impacting the immune system, its practical utility has encountered several constraints. This review centers on the diverse applications of IL-2-based cancer therapy, their underlying mechanisms, the associated limitations, and prospects for the future of IL-2 in the realm of cancer immunotherapy.