Abstract
Laminarin is a low molecular weight (504 Da) glucose branched polysaccharide which modulates humoral and cellular immune response, both non-specific and specific. Laminarin possesses anti-tumorous activity as it induces apoptosis and modulates the colonic microbio-ta.
The aim of our current study was to evaluate anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal carcinoma. Methods: A total of 46 individuals were enrolled in the prospective study including 14 controls (5 men, 9 women, age 29-80, mean 55 +- 13) and 32 patients with colorectal carcinoma, CRC (14 men, 18 women, age 46-86, mean 66 +- 11).
Two outliers were identified in the CRC group. Out of 30 CRC patients, 12 individuals had right-sided CRC (12/30; 40%).
Majority of the CRC patients had stage III (13/30; 43%) or IV (13/30; 43%) cancer. Most of the CRC patients had moderately (15/30; 50%) or poorly (11/30; 37%) differentiated CRC.
Samples were obtained from the peripheral venous blood and investigation of the serum IgG anti-laminarin antibodies was performed by means of ELISA and measured in U/mL. Results: Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly higher in controls compared to the CRC group (16.23 +- 6.60; 11.41 +- 5.53; p = 0.015) and in controls compared to left-sided carcinoma (11.38 +- 5.39; p = 0.046).
A statistically significant difference was observed between controls and CRC stage III (11.01 +- 3.36; p = 0.017) and between controls and CRC stage IV (10.98 +- 6.06; p = 0.049). Anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in moderately differentiated CRC compared to controls (10.78 +- 5.22; p = 0.020), but not in poorly differentiated CRC (12.10 +- 6.28; p = 0.755).
No difference was identified between controls and females with CRC (11.94 +- 6.39; p = 0.092). There was a significant difference between controls and males with CRC (10.72 +- 4.32; p = 0.017).
Conclusion: Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in the CRC group and CRC subgroups compared to controls.