Abstract
Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) are two key components of the lectin-pathway of complement-activation. Information on the potential role of lectin-pathway components in carcinogenesis versus immune surveillance of cancer is scarce. This study aimed to determine if serum concentrations of MBL and MASP-2 differ between children with cancer and healthy age-matched controls. In this retrospective multicentre study, MBL and MASP-2 were measured by commercially available ELISA in frozen remnants of serum taken at diagnosis in paediatric patients with cancer. For six diagnostic groups, these concentrations were compared with serum concentrations of age-matched healthy controls using exact Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. MBL and MASP-2 were measured in serum of 372 patients. MBL was significantly higher in patients with solid tumours vs. controls (median, 2,799 vs. 1,917 μg/L; P = 0.008), and MASP-2 was significantly higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (406 vs. 317 μg/L; P = 0.009), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (361 vs. 293 μg/L; P = 0.037) and CNS tumors (463 vs. 296 μg/L; P = 0.002). These results may indicate a role of MBL and MASP-2 in the initiation or progression of specific paediatric cancers, while other mechanisms remain possible as well. Larger, disease-specific studies are warranted for confirmation and for elucidation of the underlying mechanisms.
Highlights
In contrast to adaptive immunity and to certain components of innate immunity, only little is known on the influence of the complement system on cancer suppression and promotion [1, 2]
This study aimed to determine if serum concentrations of Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) differ between children with cancer and healthy agematched controls
In this retrospective multicentre study, MBL and MASP-2 were measured by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in frozen remnants of serum taken at diagnosis in paediatric patients with cancer
Summary
In contrast to adaptive immunity and to certain components of innate immunity, only little is known on the influence of the complement system on cancer suppression and promotion [1, 2]. Due to single nucleotide polymorphisms, deficiencies of MBL and MASP-2, two key components of the lectin pathway, are frequent in Caucasians, with an incidence of about 10% [3]. In adults, such deficiencies or the underlying genotypes seem to be associated with the incidence, or the prognosis, of different types of carcinoma both for MBL [4,5,6,7,8] and MASP-2 [9, 10]. The role of MASP-2, and of MBL phenotypes, in children with cancer versus healthy controls has not yet been studied. This study aimed to explore if serum concentrations of MBL and MASP-2 differ between children with cancer and healthy age-matched controls
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