Mechanisms of Interaction Between Interferon Gamma and Antineoplastic Agents on Growth and Differentiation of Leukemic Cells: A Review

INTRODUCTION Combination chemotherapy is commonly used in the treatment of leukemia. The use of biological response modifiers in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs offers a novel therapeutic combination with increased efficacy and attenuation of toxic side effects. The mechanism of interaction between the various biological modifiers themselves and that of the biological modifiers with chemotherapeutic agents is still not completely clear. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is one of the biological modifiers which exerts both an antiproliferative and differentiating capacity on leukemic cells and also interacts with antileukemic agents in a synergistic manner. Our review summarizes and evaluates the mode of this interaction on leukemic cells.