Complement System in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2019-07, Vol.20 (14), p.3550
• Main Authors: Riihilä, Pilvi, Nissinen, Liisa, Knuutila, Jaakko, Rahmati Nezhad, Pegah, Viiklepp, Kristina, Kähäri, Veli-Matti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive systems; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarkers; Blistering; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - etiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - immunology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; Chronic infection; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Collagen; Complement; Complement activation; Complement Activation - drug effects; Complement Activation - genetics; Complement Activation - immunology; Complement System Proteins - immunology; Complement System Proteins - metabolism; Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa; Epidermolysis bullosa; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Growth factors; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immune response (humoral); Immune system; Immunosuppression; Innate immunity; Keratinocytes - immunology; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Keratinocytes - pathology; Leukemia; Lymphatic leukemia; Lymphoma; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Microorganisms; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Mortality; Mutation; Mutation rates; Pathogens; Radiation therapy; Review; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Skin cancer; Skin diseases; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumor Microenvironment - genetics; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; Tumors; Ultraviolet radiation
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143550

Epidermal keratinocyte-derived cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common metastatic skin cancer with high mortality rates in the advanced stage. Chronic inflammation is a recognized risk factor for cSCC progression and the complement system, as a part of innate immunity, belongs to the microenvironment of tumors. The complement system is a double-edged sword in cancer, since complement activation is involved in anti-tumor cytotoxicity and immune responses, but it also promotes cancer progression directly and indirectly. Recently, the role of several complement components and inhibitors in the regulation of progression of cSCC has been shown. In this review, we will discuss the role of complement system components and inhibitors as biomarkers and potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in cSCC.