-enhance immune system: destroy/interfere w/ tumor activity, promote differentiation of stem cells, enhance host immune function

Examples: interferons, colony-stimulating factors, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interlukin-2 (IL-2)

-alpha, beta, gamma

 Examples: Intron-A, Referon-A, Betaseron, Actimmune

-treats hairy cell leukemia, Hep C Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

-antiviral, antiproliferative, immunmodulary

-keep med refrigerated

SE: flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, irritability, depression, suicide potential, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, alopecia

Example: Intron-A (SQ/IM), Referon A

-colony-stimulating factor for RBC formation in response to hypoxia

-treat anemia r/t chronic renal failure, chemo

-do not give if HGB > 12 (risk MI, CVA)

-SE: HTN, h/a, joint pain, n/v, edema, thrombosis

-colony-stimulating factor

-SQ

-granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

-promote WBC formation, prevent infection in chemo, bone marrow transplant, stem cell rescue, or chronic neutropenia patients

-SQ or IV

-SE: n/v/d, skeletal pain, rash, h/a, chest pain

-Adverse: splenomegaly, MI, ARDS, thrombocytopenia

-antitumor qualities

-treats renal carcinoma & malignant melanoma

Example: Aldesleukin (Proleukin)

-interlukin cancer drug

-need normal resp & cardiac function to recieve

-SE: multiple; cardio toxic, resp toxic

-IV