Alterations in plasma lipid profile patterns in head and neck cancer and oral precancerous conditions.
BACKGROUND
The changes in lipid profile have long been associated with cancer because lipids play a key role in maintenance of cell integrity.


OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluated alterations in plasma lipid profile in untreated head and neck cancer patients as well as patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and its association with habit of tobacco consumption.


METHODS
This hospital-based case control study included 184 head and neck cancer patients, 153 patients with OPC and 52 controls. Plasma lipids including: (i) Total cholesterol, (ii) LDL cholesterol (LDLC), (iii) HDL cholesterol (HDLC) (iv) VLDL cholesterol (VLDLC) and (v) triglycerides were analysed by spectrophotometric kits.


METHODS
Student's t-test was performed to compare mean values of the parameters.


RESULTS
A significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol and HDLC was observed in cancer patients (P=0.008 and P=0.000 respectively) as well as in patients with OPC (P=0.014 and P=0.000, respectively) as compared to the controls. The plasma VLDL and triglycerides levels were significantly lower in cancer patients as compared to the patients with OPC (P=0.04) and controls (P=0.059). The tobacco habituates showed lower plasma lipid levels than the non-habituates. Our data strengthen the evidence of an inverse relationship between plasma lipid levels and head and neck malignancies as well as OPC.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower levels of plasma cholesterol and other lipid constituents in patients might be due to their increased utilization by neoplastic cells for new membrane biogenesis. The findings strongly warrant an in-depth study of alterations in plasma lipid profile in head neck cancer patients.
Patel
P S
PS
Biochemistry Research Division, Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Asarwa, Ahmedabad-380 016, India. prabhudas_p@hotmail.com
Shah
M H
MH
Jha
F P
FP
Raval
G N
GN
Rawal
R M
RM
Patel
M M
MM
Patel
J B
JB
Patel
D D
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000097:blood; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol