Serum mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease 2 levels in colorectal cancer: relation to recurrence and mortality.
OBJECTIVE
Mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2) is a plasma protein involved in inflammatory processes. MASP-2 circulates in complex with the protein mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or ficolins, and is activated to recruit the complement system when MBL binds to its targets. The level of MASP-2 is genetically determined, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of MASP-2 levels on postoperative infection, recurrence and survival.


METHODS
MASP-2 concentrations were determined in serum from 605 patients collected before elective resection for primary colorectal cancer. The primary end points were postoperative infection, time to any recurrence, and time to death. The median time of follow-up was 7.9 years.


RESULTS
MASP-2 levels were not correlated to postoperative infections (P = 0.49). High MASP-2 levels significantly correlated with recurrent cancer disease [P = 0.03; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-2.0] and with poor survival (P = 0.0005; HR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7). Multivariate statistical analysis, including age, gender, Dukes' stage of disease, tumor localization, and postoperative pneumonia, showed that the MASP-2 level had an independent prognostic value in the patients (P = 0.0001; HR = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8).


CONCLUSIONS
In the cohort of patients with colorectal cancer investigated, MASP-2 concentration in serum proved to be an independent prognostic marker with high MASP-2 levels predicting recurrence and poor survival. Postoperative infection could not be shown to be associated with MASP-2 levels.
Ytting
Henriette
H
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre University Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. ytting@dadlnet.dk
Christensen
Ib Jarle
IJ
Thiel
Steffen
S
Jensenius
Jens Christian
JC
Nielsen
Hans Jørgen
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
C105296:MASP2 protein, human; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases