CSF2 and neoplasm: In another study with non-tumor bearing mice treated to measure the effects of 5-FU on cytokine expression in the brain, Groves TR et al. 2017 found that chemotherapy altered cytokine abundance in the hippocampus, with IL-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -17, GMCSF (granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor), and RANTES expressed at higher levels in treated mice compared to controls, suggesting a mechanism for potential toxic side-effects of the drug in the brain.