Several cytokines stimulating hematopoiesis, mainly lineage restricted, are already widely used in supportive care to correct myelosupression or anaemia (GM-CSF, G-CSF, EPO)- The new growth factor are tested in preclinical or clinical studies to abrogate other anti-cancer therapy side-effects (thrombocytopenia, mucositis etc.). IL-3 has been shown to have only limited effect on neutrophils and platelets production respecti- vely. IL-6 and IL-11 have been tested to improve thrombocytopenia and mucositis (IL-11). Throm- bopoetin (TPO, c-mpl) is tested in clinical trials and shows very strong effect on platelet counts. Stem cell factor (SCF) has shown to improve progenitor cell mobilisation, particularly in combi- nation with other cytokines. The new promising factor, FLT-3 ligand, combines effect on hemato- poiesis with effect on dendritic cells generation. The new group of synthetic cytokines (daniplestim, myelopoetin, promegapoetin and progenipoe- tin) is now tested in preclinical and clinical studies. Mucositis could be influenced by new kerati- nocyte growth factor (KGF), which is now in phase I trials.

        Key words: Hemopoetic cytokines - Synthokines - Supportive care