This was achieved by (i) lectin histochemistry with identification of the location of the glycoproteins in spleen tissues, either in normal or cancer tissue; and (ii) quantification of the lectin-bound glycoproteins and key proteins (maltase-glucoamylase, vitronectin, complement C7) in the tissues using a semi-quantitative lectin/immunohistochemical signal scoring method. Here, C7 is linked to cancer.