Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
Chemotherapy-related infections in patients with multiple myeloma: associations with mannan-binding lectin genotypes
Ingolf Mølle1, Rudi Steffensen, Steffen Thiel
1Department of Haematology, University Hospital of Aarhus, THG, Aarhus, Denmark. im@dadlnet.dk
Objectives:
To study a possible association between mannan-binding lectin genotypes and severe infections in patients with multiple myeloma receiving moderate strength induction chemotherapy.
Methods:
Chemotherapy-related infections were identified retrospectively using clinical records and database files. Mannan-binding lectin genotypes were identified with polymerase chain reaction on stored samples of stem cells or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies.
Results:
We included 138 myeloma patients. In five patients, data were incomplete, and 133 patients were analysed. Eighty-eight patients were homozygous for wild-type MBL2 (AA) and forty-five patients were heterozygous or homozygous for variant genotypes (AO/OO). A total of 390 chemotherapy cycles were reviewed. Common Toxicity Criteria grades 3 and 4 infections in general were seen in relation to 104 cycles and were not more common in patient with variant MBL2 (P = 0.90). Septicaemia was seen after 10% of chemotherapy cycles in AA patients vs. 15% in AO/OO patients (P = 0.15). In multi-variate analyses, we found indication of a reduced risk of septicaemia in AA patients [OR 0.27 (0.08-0.90), P = 0.03], after first chemotherapy cycle, but reduction of the risk including all cycles was not significant. A similar trend was seen for grades 3 and 4 infections in general.
Conclusions:
During induction chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma, a general protective effect of wild-type MBL2 against chemotherapy-related infections was not apparent in this study. However, we found indications of a reduced occurrence of septicaemia in patients with wild-type compared with variant MBL2. Further studies in larger cohorts of patients are relevant.
Insights
This study investigated mannan-binding lectin (MBL) genotypes and severe infections in multiple myeloma patients undergoing chemotherapy. While no general protective effect was found, wild-type MBL2 showed indications of reduced septicaemia risk.
Area of Science:
- Immunogenetics
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Multiple myeloma patients undergoing chemotherapy are susceptible to severe infections.
- Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) plays a role in innate immunity and its genotypes may influence infection risk.
- Understanding genetic predispositions can help personalize treatment and infection prophylaxis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if mannan-binding lectin (MBL) genotypes are associated with severe infections in multiple myeloma patients receiving induction chemotherapy.
- To explore the potential protective role of wild-type MBL2 genotypes against chemotherapy-related infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective identification of chemotherapy-related infections using clinical records.
- Genotyping of MBL2 using polymerase chain reaction on stored patient samples (stem cells or bone marrow biopsies).
- Analysis of infection rates (grades 3-4 and septicaemia) in relation to MBL2 genotypes (AA vs. AO/OO).
Main Results:
- 133 multiple myeloma patients were analyzed, with 88 having wild-type MBL2 (AA) and 45 having variant genotypes (AO/OO).
- Overall severe infections (grades 3-4) were not significantly more common in patients with variant MBL2 genotypes.
- A trend towards reduced risk of septicaemia was observed in patients with wild-type MBL2 (AA) compared to variant genotypes, particularly after the first chemotherapy cycle.
Conclusions:
- Wild-type MBL2 did not demonstrate a general protective effect against chemotherapy-related infections in this cohort of multiple myeloma patients.
- However, preliminary findings suggest a potential reduction in septicaemia occurrence in patients with wild-type MBL2 compared to variant genotypes.
- Larger cohort studies are warranted to confirm these indications and further investigate the role of MBL genetics in infection susceptibility.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:27Disorders of Leukocytes
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...