Growth factors: biological and clinical aspects.

Abstract

The purpose of this meeting summary is to provide an overview of cytokine research and its role in radiation oncology. The sixth annual Radiation Workshop was held at the International Festival Institute at Round Top, TX. Presentations of seventeen speakers provided the framework for discussions on the biological and clinical aspects of cytokine research. Orchestration of coordinated cellular responses over the time course of radiation effects requires the interaction of many growth factors with their receptors as well as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Cytokine networks and integrated systems are important in tumor development, cancer treatment, and normal and tumor response to cancer treatment.