Complement in cancer: untangling an intricate relationship.

Abstract

In tumour immunology, complement has traditionally been considered as an adjunctive component that enhances the cytolytic effects of antibody-based immunotherapies, such as rituximab. Remarkably, research in the past decade has uncovered novel molecular mechanisms linking imbalanced complement activation in the tumour microenvironment with inflammation and suppression of antitumour immune responses. These findings have prompted new interest in manipulating the complement system for cancer therapy. This Review summarizes our current understanding of complement-mediated effector functions in the tumour microenvironment, focusing on how complement activation can act as a negative or positive regulator of tumorigenesis. It also offers insight into clinical aspects, including the feasibility of using complement biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and the use of complement inhibitors during cancer treatment.

• Authors: Edimara S Reis, Dimitrios C Mastellos, Daniel Ricklin, Alberto Mantovani, John D Lambris
• Journal: Nature reviews. Immunology (Nat Rev Immunol) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 5-18 (01 2018) ISSN: 1474-1741 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28920587 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Comment)

Chemical References

• Chemotactic Factors
• Complement System Proteins

Topics

• Chemotactic Factors
• Complement Activation
• Complement System Proteins
• Humans
• Myeloid Cells
• Neoplasms
• Tumor Microenvironment