# Immunocytokines (antibody-cytokine fusions)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/immunocytokines/  
OnCo record `immunocytokines` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Cytokines such as interleukin-2 or TNF fused to an antibody that homes to the tumour, aiming to concentrate the immune boost where it is needed and spare the rest of the body.

## Summary

Systemic interleukin-2 and interferon were among the first cancer immunotherapies but were limited by severe toxicity. Immunocytokines fuse a cytokine to a tumour-targeting antibody or fragment so that it accumulates in tumour tissue; examples include L19-IL2 and L19-TNF (Philogen), which reached phase 3 in melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma, and engineered IL-2 and IL-12 variants with reduced systemic activity. Results have been mixed and no product is approved.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: phase-3
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Principle: A cytokine domain is fused to an antibody against a tumour-associated antigen or stromal marker, delivering local immune activation after systemic dosing.
- Strengths: Localises potent cytokines to tumour; Combines with checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy
- Limitations: Cytokines still leak systemically; Complex manufacturing; No approvals despite decades of work

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine

## Connected records

- cancers: [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/sarcoma/)
- fronts: [Immunotherapy](https://onco.cc/fronts/immunotherapy/)
- technologies: [Cytokines & engineered cytokines](https://onco.cc/technologies/cytokine-therapy/)
- drugs: [Daromun](https://onco.cc/drugs/daromun/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/immunocytokines.json