Friday
August 24 12:12 AM ET
Study Links Blood Protein to Chemotherapy Problems
LONDON (Reuters) - Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are more
likely to suffer infections if they have low levels of a key blood
protein, research published on Friday showed.
Genetic identification of patients deficient in mannose-binding lectin
(MBL) could help reduce illness and death in cancer patients in future,
according to a paper published in The Lancet medical journal.
MBL plays an important role in the immune system. Chemotherapy often
reduces the concentration of white blood cells, another key part of the
body's self-defense mechanism.
Dr. Nigel Klein of London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital
tested MBL concentrations in 100 children with cancer and found those with
low levels suffered infections lasting around 20 days, double the number
for those with normal amounts of the protein.
About 65 percent of childhood deaths from myeloid leukemia are
associated with chemotherapy-related infection.
A separate study carried out at Aarhus University in Denmark showed a
``significant association'' between low MBL levels and serious infections
after chemotherapy.
``Our findings suggest that patients with low MBL concentrations could
benefit from replacement therapy with MBL before and during
chemotherapy,'' the team from the university's Department of Medical
Hematology said.
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