Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future

Vorona, Kristina; Ryapolova, Anastasia; Sokolova, Olesya; Karabelsky, Alexander; Ivanov, Roman; Reshetnikov, Vasiliy; Minskaia, Ekaterina

doi:10.3390/ijms262311679

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Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future

by

Kristina Vorona

,

Anastasia Ryapolova

,

Olesya Sokolova

,

Alexander Karabelsky

,

Roman Ivanov

,

Vasiliy Reshetnikov

^*,†

and

Ekaterina Minskaia

^*,†

Translational Medicine Research Center, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, 354340 Sochi, Russia

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311679

Submission received: 13 November 2025 / Revised: 28 November 2025 / Accepted: 28 November 2025 / Published: 2 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Targets in Cancers: 4th Edition)

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Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) are well-known immunostimulants involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. These multifunctional proteins mediate an early antiviral response and have pronounced immunomodulatory and antiproliferative properties. Due to their potency, IFNs have been used not only in the treatment of viral infections but also various other diseases. However, the use of IFNs in antitumor therapy has been limited by the frequent severe side effects, which reduced their appeal for the treatment of cancer. In this review, we focused on current data on recombinant IFNs used for anticancer therapy, as well as the development of promising IFN-based gene therapy approaches, with a focus on their safety and therapeutic efficacy. We also highlighted various types of IFNs and their application niches in the treatment of not only cancers in combination therapy but also of certain rare diseases. Taken together, this review improves our understanding of the existing IFN applications in cancer therapy, the disadvantages of using IFNs, and possible approaches for their improvement.

Keywords: interferon; IFN; interferon type; anti-cancer therapy; antitumor therapy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Vorona, K.; Ryapolova, A.; Sokolova, O.; Karabelsky, A.; Ivanov, R.; Reshetnikov, V.; Minskaia, E. Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 11679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311679

AMA Style

Vorona K, Ryapolova A, Sokolova O, Karabelsky A, Ivanov R, Reshetnikov V, Minskaia E. Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(23):11679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311679

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vorona, Kristina, Anastasia Ryapolova, Olesya Sokolova, Alexander Karabelsky, Roman Ivanov, Vasiliy Reshetnikov, and Ekaterina Minskaia. 2025. "Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 23: 11679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311679

APA Style

Vorona, K., Ryapolova, A., Sokolova, O., Karabelsky, A., Ivanov, R., Reshetnikov, V., & Minskaia, E. (2025). Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(23), 11679. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311679

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Interferon-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future

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