| abstract |
Transforming Growth Factor-b (TGF-b) enhances the growth-inhibiting activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interferon-a (IFN-a) on immune cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells, as well as cancer cells. Thus, combinations of TGF-b with TNF or IFN-a are effective for suppressing immune cell and hematopoietic progenitor cell growth, and are thus useful for treating cancer (e.g., lymphomas, leukemias, myelomas, adenocarcinomas, etc.), autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus, uveitis, etc.) hyperproliferative diseases (e.g., psoriasis vulgaris), and organ transplant rejection, and for protecting immune cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells from the lethal effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. |