Study of possible clinical and laboratory predictors of alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens in cancer patients

BACKGROUND The inflammatory background of patients influences the process of alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens. Proof of this statement to clinical practice is still lacking. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to verify whether factors related to disease severity and inflammatory status of cancer patients can predict alloimmunization. METHODS This was a case-control study in which alloimmunized oncologic patients treated between 2009 and 2012 were compared with a non-alloimmunized control group regarding the severity of the disease (metastasis/performance status/body mass index) and C-reactive protein levels. RESULTS The groups did not differ significantly in terms of C-reactive protein, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)/Karnofsky performance status, presence of metastasis and body mass index. CONCLUSION It is not possible to predict alloimmunization in cancer patients based on severity of illness and inflammatory markers. Strategies of screening patients by phenotyping blood based on these criteria are not justified.