Increased Removal Signals On Erythrocytes Of Anemic Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a negative factor in cancer, influencing the prognosis, quality of life and financial situation of cancer patients. Recent studies have shown that anemia in cancer is provoked by augmented erythrocyte removal. OBJECTIVE: In this study we sought to investigate the molecular bases for erythrocyte removal in cancer patients with anemia. In particular, we explored the levels of erythrocyte CD47, lactadherin, calreticulin and MCP1. METHODS: Thirty five anemic cancer patients (25 women, aged 66.4 +/-11.35 years old) and twelve healthy non-anemic controls (8 men, aged 61.1+/-9.98 years old) participated in our study. Red blood cells were isolated throug multiple centrifugations, and were lysed with the use of Triton-X 100. The levels of CD47, lactadherin, calreticulin and monocyte chemoattrractant protein 1 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Erythrocytes of anemic cancer patients display reduced CD47 (p<0.001), MCP1 (p=0.05), CD47 to lactadherin ratio (p<0.05), and increased lactadherin levels (p<0.01) in comparison to the healthy controls. DISCUSSION: Reduced CD47 along with increased lactadherin possibly drive erythrocyte removal in anemic cancer patients. Conclusions: The role of CD47 and increased lactadherin should be examined in the future as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for anemia diagnosis and iron dymsetabolism.