The interferon-gamma paradox in cancer

MR Zaidi - Journal of interferon & cytokine research, 2019 - liebertpub.com
Journal of interferon & cytokine research, 2019liebertpub.com
Interferon-gamma (IFNG) has long been implicated as a central orchestrator of antitumor
immune responses in the elimination stage of the immunoediting paradigm. However,
mounting evidence suggests that IFNG may also have important and significant protumor
roles to play in the equilibrium and escape phases through its regulatory effects on
immunoevasive functions that promote tumorigenesis. These seemingly contradictory effects
of IFNG undoubtedly play profound roles in not only the activation of inflammatory response …
Interferon-gamma (IFNG) has long been implicated as a central orchestrator of antitumor immune responses in the elimination stage of the immunoediting paradigm. However, mounting evidence suggests that IFNG may also have important and significant protumor roles to play in the equilibrium and escape phases through its regulatory effects on immunoevasive functions that promote tumorigenesis. These seemingly contradictory effects of IFNG undoubtedly play profound roles in not only the activation of inflammatory response to cancer but also in the determination of its outcome. In the face of the recent explosion of anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies in the clinic, it is critical that a complete understanding is achieved of the underpinnings of the mechanisms that determine the two faces of IFNG signaling in cancer. Here, the current state of this dichotomy is reviewed.
Mary Ann Liebert