Review Article
Treatment of Cancer Pain by Targeting Cytokines
Table 1
Drugs targeting cytokines that have been tested in pain control.
| Drug class | Mechanism of action | Cytokines targeted | Indication in cancer pain treatment |
| Steroids | Inhibit NF-B | Downregulate TNF- and IL-1 | Adjuvants for cancer pain treatment CNS lesions | NSAIDs | COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition | Downregulate IL-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. | Adjuvants for cancer pain treatment bone pain | Opioids | Release of endogenous opioid peptides | Possible inhibition of TNF- and IFN- release | Moderate to severe pain | Statins | Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase | FGF, EGF, TGF, and PDGF | Not in use | Anti-TNF agents | Multiple mechanisms of TNF blocking (antibody) | TNF | Not in use | IFN- blocking agents | Interaction with CB2 receptor | IFN- | Not in use | IL-6 blocking agents | Antibodies | IL-6 | Not in use | Targeting chemokines | Antibodies | Chemokines | Not in use | Endothelin antagonists | receptor antagonists | Endothelin | Not in use |
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