cer and the Complement Cascade

ownload pite significant research on the role of inflammation and immunosurveillance in the immunologic nvironment of tumors, little attention has been given to the oncogenic capabilities of the complement e. The recent finding that complement may contribute to tumor growth suggests an insidious relationship n complement and cancer, especially in light of evidence that complement facilitates cellular proliferation generation. We address the hypothesis that complement proteins promote carcinogenesis and suggest nisms by which complement can drive the fundamental features of cancer. Evidence shows that this family of innate immune proteins facilitates dysregulation of mitogenic signaling pathways, sustained r proliferation, angiogenesis, insensitivity to apoptosis, invasion and migration, and escape from nosurveillance. Given that the traditionally held functions for the complement system include innate immu immunity and cancer defense, our review suggests a new way of thinking about the role of complement proteins in neoplasia. Mol Cancer Res; 8(11); 1453–65. ©2010 AACR.