Table 1.

Drugs targeting cytokines that have been tested in pain control.

Drug class	Mechanism of action	Cytokines targeted	Indication in cancer pain treatment
Steroids	Inhibit NF-κB	Downregulate TNF-α and IL-1	Adjuvants for cancer pain treatment CNS lesions
NSAIDs	COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition	Downregulate IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6.	Adjuvants for cancer pain treatment bone pain
Opioids	Release of endogenous opioid peptides	Possible inhibition of TNF-α and IFN-γ release	Moderate to severe pain
Statins	Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase	FGF, EGF, TGF, and PDGF	Not in use
Anti-TNF agents	Multiple mechanisms of TNF blocking (antibody)	TNF	Not in use
IFN-γ blocking agents	Interaction with CB2 receptor	IFN-γ	Not in use
IL-6 blocking agents	Antibodies	IL-6	Not in use
Targeting chemokines	Antibodies	Chemokines	Not in use
Endothelin antagonists	ETA receptor antagonists	Endothelin	Not in use