title: Serum retinol level in patients with colorectal premalignant and malignant lesions.
abstract: Serum retinol levels were determined by a fluorometric method in patients with colorectal cancer or polyps and those with inflammatory bowel disease. Serum retinol levels in patients with benign or malignant colorectal polyps and stage B cancer (modified Dukes' classification) were similar to those found in controls. By contrast, serum retinol levels were significantly lower in patients with Dukes' stage C or D. Among cancer patients that were followed after surgical treatment serum retinol levels did not differ significantly from those found in controls. Patients who died of metastases during follow-up possessed very low serum retinol levels. These findings suggest that a decreased serum retinol level in cancer patients is a consequence rather than a precursor of the neoplastic process. Furthermore, this study suggests that the marked decrease in serum retinol level might be an indicator of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients after surgery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000097:blood*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A