What is it about?
Chronic inflammation is generally considered a risk factor for the development of cancer. In psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, the link with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, has not yet been clarified. In medical practice, it has long been observed that tumours in psoriasis often do not develop directly in inflamed areas of skin. We have now confirmed this phenomenon in mice and identified the possible biological mechanism behind it.
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Why is it important?
Our results emphasise that inflammatory reactions do not necessarily promote tumour growth. Depending on the composition of the immune response, they can activate processes that slow down tumour growth. In the long term, these new findings could help to assess the cancer risk in chronic inflammatory diseases more accurately and to use immunomodulatory therapies for cancer treatment in a more differentiated manner.
Perspectives
Our study highlights that sustain immune activity can often act as a natural barrier against cancer. By showing that certain immune responses can stop early tumor cells from growing, it suggests that the body’s own defences may be harnessed to prevent cancer before it starts. Understanding how these protective immune mechanisms work could support the development of preventive approaches that activate or mimic these natural anti-tumor defenses.
Erwin Wagner
Medical University of Vienna
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Psoriasis-like disease prevents squamous skin tumor development by neutrophil-driven inflammation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2536378123.
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