Targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy

Cytokines

Cytokines are a group of proteins that are found naturally in the body. They are a type of immunotherapy that's used to treat a group of blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms.

What are cytokines?

Cytokines are a group of proteins that occur naturally in the body. They play an important role in our . Interferon and interleukin are types of cytokines found in the body.

Cytokine drugs can treat a number of conditions including cancer. Scientists have developed a version of interferon to treat cancer that is made in the laboratory. This is called peginterferon alfa 2a. It’s also known as peginterferon or Pegasys.

Other cytokine treatments such as interleukin are still being tested in .

Find out more about clinical trials

How do cytokine drugs work?

These drugs are a type of because they work by boosting our immune system.

In cancer treatment cytokine drugs work by making the cancer cells more visible to our immune system. This encourages our immune system to then attack the cancer.

Peginterferon to treat blood cancers

Peginterferon is a possible treatment for a group of blood cancers called . This includes polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET).

These cancers cause the to make more than the body needs. This can lead to problems like blood clots or a swollen (enlarged) .

Treatment with peginterferon helps to reduce the spleens size and the number of blood cells the bone marrow is producing.

Find out more about myeloproliferative neoplasms

More about peginterferon alpha 2

How do you have peginterferon alpha 2a?

You have peginterferon as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneously).

You usually have it once a week, but the frequency might reduce to every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on your blood results. You continue to have peginterferon for as long as the treatment is working and you’re not experiencing too many side effects.

What are the side effects of peginterferon alpha 2a?

Some of the common side effects of peginterferon include:

loss of appetite and weight loss
tiredness (fatigue)
increased number of infections
difficulty sleeping
mood changes
headaches
diarrhoea
feeling or being sick
flu-like symptoms such as chills, aching joints and muscles, and fever

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses our immune system to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.

Other treatment for cancer

Treatments can include surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted cancer drugs). Find out about treatments and how to cope with side effects.

Research and clinical trials

Our clinical trials aim to find out if a new treatment or procedure is safe, is better than the current treatment or helps you feel better.

Your cancer type

Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.

Targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy main page

Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ those differences that help a cancer cell to survive and grow. Immunotherapy uses our immune system to fight cancer. Find out more about the different types of treatment.