Final answer:
The drug that can cause cytokine release syndrome as a side effect is aldesleukin. It activates lymphocytes to enhance the immune response, but can also lead to the serious condition of cytokine release syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medication that has a side effect of cytokine release syndrome is A. aldesleukin. Aldesleukin is a form of interleukin-2, a cytokine that activates lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell pivotal in the immune response. This drug can lead to the rapid activation and expansion of lymphocytes, resulting in cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS is characterized by fever, fatigue, headache, rash, and in severe cases, can lead to life-threatening complications like cardiovascular shock or neurological symptoms.
The mechanism of action of aldesleukin is to stimulate immune cells to elicit anticancer responses. It is an example of therapies that externally stimulate cytotoxic T cells, assisting or enhancing the immune response against cancer cells. This is particularly relevant to therapies aimed at treating malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.