Type i interferons: Ancient peptides with still under-discovered anti-cancer properties

Type i interferons (ifns) represent a group of cytokines that act through a common receptor composed by two chains (ifnar-1 and ifnar-2). several in vitro and in vivo studies showed a potent antitumor activity induced by these cytokines. ifn-α,the first cytokine to be produced by recombinant dna technology,has emerged as an important regulator of cancer cell growth and differentiation,affecting cellular communication and signal transduction pathways. ifn-α,is currently the most used cytokine in the treatment of cancer. however,the potential anti-tumour activity of ifn-α is limited by the activation of tumour resistance mechanisms. this article reviews the current knowledge about the antitumor activity of type i ifns,focusing on new potential strategies able to strengthen the antitumor activity of these cytokines. © 2013 bentham science publishers.