Possible involvement of hyperlipidemia in increasing risk of colorectal tumor development in human familial adenomatous polyposis.
BACKGROUND
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) results from germline adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutations and many affected patients die from colorectal cancers which arise from colorectal polyps. We previously reported that two strains of Apc gene-deficient mice developing multiple intestinal polyps exhibit a hyperlipidemic state. The triglyceride (TG) levels were approximately 10-fold higher than the levels observed in wild-type mice.


METHODS
To examine whether a positive relationship might exist between hyperlipidemia and colorectal tumor development in FAP patients, as with Apc gene-deficient mice, a pilot experiment was performed using readily available clinical data such as ages, serum lipid levels, number of colorectal polyps and cancer development in 28 FAP patients from the National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of hyperlipidemia in FAP cases was 58%. Average TG levels in the 40-60 year age groups of FAP patients were > or =150 mg/dl (the defined threshold level of hyperlipidemia). Moreover, there was a tendency for higher serum TG levels in patients who developed colorectal cancer, as compared with those without colorectal cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that a hyperlipidemic state occurs in FAP patients. Although it is weaker than that in Apc gene-deficient mice, it may be linked to colon tumor development. These data warrant further studies for wider populations of FAP patients.
Cancer Prevention Basic Research Project, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. mimutoh@gan2.ncc.go.jp
Michihiro
M
Mutoh
Takayuki
T
Akasu
Mami
M
Takahashi
Naoko
N
Niho
Teruhiko
T
Yoshida
Takashi
T
Sugimura
Keiji
K
Wakabayashi
D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D017491:Genes, APC; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides