The role of the complement system in oncogenesis and tumor progression remains poorly understood. We have recently demonstrated that the induction of a tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell response is improved upon transient inhibition of the complement system, which is coupled to an increased availability of natural killer cells. The complement system may therefore turn out to constitute a promising target for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.
Keywords: NK cells; cancer; complement; immunotherapy; melanoma.