Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRPs) play an important role in the protection of cells from complement-mediated injury. It is now apparent that malignant tumor cells also express these proteins to escape complement attack. Here, Arko Gorter and Seppo Meri discuss the implications of complement resistance for the immunotherapeutic treatment of solid tumors with monoclonal antibodies.
Leiden University Medical Center, Dept of Pathology, Building 1, L1Q, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. A.Gorter@Pathology.MedFac.LeidenUniv.NL