RESUMEN
Se presenta una revision de la literatura sobre el Factor de Necrosis de los Tumores o Caquectina, con base en articulos publicados durante los anos 1986-1987, haciendo hincapie en las diferencias funcionales y moleculares entre el FNT Alfa, la Linfotoxina o FNT Beta y la caquectina. Se enfatizan los mecanismos del shock, de la necrosis tumoral y de la caquexia; se indican las propiedades antitumorales del FNT in vivo e in vitro y se esbozan esquemas terapeuticos experimentales que permiten colegir que el FNT tendra un papel importante en la inmunoterapia del cancer en el hombre
This is a review of the 1986-1987 Literature on the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) or Cachectin, emphasizing functional and molecular differences among TNF alpha, Iymphotoxin or TNF beta and Cachectin. Mechanisms of shock, tumor necrosis and cachexia are discussed. In vivo and in vitro antitumoral properties of TNF are indicated, as well as some experimental therapeutic regimens. These facts allow the suggestion that TNF might become an important aid for Immunotherapy of cancer in humans.