{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T22:44:28Z","timestamp":1776897868582,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"The University of Kansas","issue":"S1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776816000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["kjm"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key mediator of inflammation and cancer biology. Tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor blocker, is used to treat autoimmune diseases and has become essential in managing cytokine release syndrome (CRS) associated with CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. However, global access to tocilizumab, as well as the cost and uptake of its biosimilars, remains uneven. This review summarizes evidence across three major areas: clinical uses and safety, oncologic and CRS-related applications, and global access and biosimilars.\nMethods. Using a PRISMA-ScR approach, we mapped published studies, clinical data, and economic reports. We included evidence on tocilizumab\u2019s approved and emerging indications; its role in CRS related to immunotherapies; and access, pricing, and biosimilar availability across regions.\nResults. Tocilizumab continues to demonstrate reliable anti-inflammatory effects in rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis, and COVID-19, with a consistent safety profile that includes infections, cytopenias, and elevated liver enzymes or lipid levels. In oncology, it is the standard treatment for moderate to severe CRS associated with CAR-T therapy and is increasingly used with bispecific antibodies. Early or prophylactic use may reduce hospitalization without compromising anticancer efficacy. Preclinical and early clinical data also suggest IL-6 blockade may improve responses to immunotherapy, although this remains exploratory. Global access varies widely: FDA- and EMA-approved biosimilars have lowered costs in high-income regions, while affordability and availability remain major barriers in low- and middle-income countries.\nConclusions. Tocilizumab now spans autoimmune care, supportive oncology, and early investigational cancer applications. Improving biosimilar access, clarifying CRS management strategies, and expanding high-quality oncologic trials are important next steps.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.17161\/kjm.vol19.25372","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T22:16:57Z","timestamp":1776896217000},"page":"8","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Tocilizumab: From Bench to Bedside - A Comprehensive Review"],"prefix":"10.17161","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Alexandre","family":"Khoury","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"El Halabi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anthony","family":"Al Bayeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marcel","family":"Katrib","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Janane","family":"Nasr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pavan","family":"Reddy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"6672","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"container-title":["Kansas Journal of Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.ku.edu\/kjm\/article\/download\/25372\/22543","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.ku.edu\/kjm\/article\/download\/25372\/22543","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T22:16:58Z","timestamp":1776896218000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.ku.edu\/kjm\/article\/view\/25372"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"S1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.17161\/kjm.vol19.25372","relation":{},"ISSN":["1948-2035"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1948-2035","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]]}}}