Interleukin-24: A Multidimensional Therapeutic for Treatment of Human Diseases.

The field of targeted therapy exploits the selective expression of therapeutic genes or proteins in diseased cells. While this area is gaining attraction in the context of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other major health disorders, it has been most extensively explored in the realm of cancer. Targeted therapy has gained significance in the cancer field for its potential to address the limitations of conventional treatments and enhance patient survival. Interleukin-24 (IL-24), a versatile cytokine, has been evaluated as a cancer therapeutic in various preclinical cancer models and clinical trials, and has yielded promising results. Consequently, multiple studies highlight IL-24 as a viable "anti-cancer" therapeutic, with successful outcomes observed in combination therapies involving small molecule inhibitors, chemotherapeutic drugs, and radiation. Despite the evidence validating the tumor-suppressing properties of IL-24 in cancer models, there is a dearth of information regarding its role in other human diseases. The objective of this review is to offer a synopsis of the potential role of IL-24 in diverse human diseases. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive review of the progress in cancer therapy utilizing IL-24. Finally, from the author's standpoint, the review also addresses some of the limitations that impede the translational potential of IL-24-based therapy in clinical settings. It offers arguments in favor of incorporating IL-24-based targeted therapy as an effective and safer alternative for current treatment modalities, thereby highlighting its potential to revolutionize the field of therapeutics.