Cytokines as drug targets.

Cytokines (interleukins, chemokines, and some growth factors) play an important role in cancer, metabolic disorders, autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and asthma. Cytokine-based drugs and anticytokine therapies are an increasingly important class of drugs in the treatment and management of many diseases. Interferons are being used to treat viral diseases and cancers. Anti-tissue necrosis factor therapies, such as Enbrel (etanercept; Immunex Corp) and Remicade (infliximab; Centocor) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. In addition, thalidomide (Celgene) is being used to treat erythema nodosum in leprosy, cancers (multiple myeloma and colon cancer) and autoimmune diseases. This conference focused on new developments in basic research, drug discovery and clinical development of cytokine-based drugs.