Plasma lipid profile in gynecologic cancers

Background: Lipids are associated with cancer because they play a key role in the maintenance of cell integrity. We studied the relationship of plasma lipids with gynecologic cancer. Methods: A total of 196 female individuals were included in the study. Of these 50 were normal subjects. The remaining were cancer patients: 80 breast cancer, 40 ovarian cancer and 26 patients with other gynecologic cancers. Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were estimated by using spectrophotometer. Results: In breast cancer patients there is moderate increase in the plasma levels of triglycerides (18%) and cholesterol (21%), and a high increase in LDL-cholesterol (43%), while there is a moderate decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels (30%) when compared with normal subjects. In ovarian cancer patients, there is a high decrease in the plasma levels of triglycerides (31%) and HDL-cholesterol (39%), while a moderate decrease in cholesterol (28%) and LDL-cholesterol levels (11%) when compared with normal subjects. In gynecologic cancers other than breast and ovarian cancer, there is a moderate decrease in plasma levels of the triglycerides (25%), cholesterol (21 %), and HDL-cholesterol levels (27%), while a non-significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol (6.2%) when compared with normal subjects. Conclusions: Plasma lipid levels, except HDL-cholesterol, are raised in breast cancer and are decreased in other gynecologic cancers. HDL-cholesterol is decreased in all gynecologic cancers. As there is an alteration in the plasma lipid profile during gynecologic cancers, it may be helpful for diagnosis of the disease.

Plasma lipids; Gynecologic cancers

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