Sammanfattning
In Denmark approximately 3,600 patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) every year. 75-80% of patients may undergo intended curative resection, but the disease recurs in about 40% within five years and the prognosis is poor. Hence, there is a need for biological markers that could be used for detection, evaluation of prognosis, therapy selection and monitoring. The serum proteins of the innate immune system mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) are novel biomarkers under validation in CRC. Low preoperative MBL levels are predictive of pneumonia which subsequently is associated with poor survival. High MASP-2 levels predict recurrence and poor survival.