IL17A and neoplasm: Such long-term and repeated bouts of inflammation increase the rate of genetic mutations and promote the development of precancerous cells, significantly increasing the probability of tumor development.288,289 Moreover, it has been suggested that tumors are essentially hard-to-heal wounds, and that repetitive tissue damage increases the incidence of IL-17-dependent malignancies.290,291 Whether long-term chronic inflammation or recurrent tissue damage is involved, the common factors are significant increases in cell proliferation and IL-17 levels.