Learning Objective
Understand the clinical uses and key toxicities of recombinant cytokines and colony-stimulating factors.
Recombinant Cytokines and Clinical Uses
| Cytokine / Agent | Clinical Use / Indication | Key Notes / Toxicities |
|---|---|---|
| Erythropoietin (Epoetin alfa) | Anemias, especially in chronic kidney disease | ↑ Risk of hypertension, thromboembolic events |
| Colony-stimulating factors – Filgrastim (G-CSF) – Sargramostim (GM-CSF) |
Leukopenia; recovery of granulocyte and monocyte counts (e.g., after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant) | Monitor for bone pain, fever, and mild splenomegaly |
| Thrombopoietin receptor agonists – Romiplostim – Eltrombopag |
Autoimmune thrombocytopenia; platelet stimulation | Risk of thrombosis; monitor platelet counts |
| Interleukin-2 (Aldesleukin) | Immunotherapy: renal cell carcinoma, metastatic melanoma | Can cause capillary leak syndrome, hypotension |
| Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) | Chronic hepatitis B and C (less preferred now), renal cell carcinoma | Flu-like symptoms, depression, cytopenias |
| Interferon-beta (IFN-β) | Multiple sclerosis | Flu-like symptoms, injection site reactions |
| Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) | Chronic granulomatous disease | ↑ Risk of infection flare, fever, fatigue |
