Serum retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl palmitate levels in patients with lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between dietary vitamin A intake and the risk of developing lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the vitamin A status in patients with lung cancer, by determining the serum levels of retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl palmitate.


METHODS
In total, 36 patients with lung cancer and 27 controls were assessed. Of the patients 14 had squamous cell carcinoma, 3 adenocarcinoma, 15 non-small cell lung cancer and 4 small cell lung cancer. Serum retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl palmitate levels were determined with HPLC and UV detection, after liquid extraction.


RESULTS
Serum retinol levels did not differ between patients (733.5 +/- 326.4 ng/mL) and controls (734.5 +/- 337.1 ng/mL). The retinyl palmitate concentration tended to be lower in patients (14.3 +/- 9.7 ng/mL) than in controls (16.7 +/- 13.7 ng/mL). The serum retinoic acid levels were significantly lower in patients (1.9 +/- 0.6 ng/mL) than in controls (2.5 +/- 1.1 ng/mL, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the retinol and retinoic acid levels and retinyl palmitate and retinoic acid levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower levels of retinoic acid in patients with lung cancer suggest there may be a deficiency or impairment in retinol metabolism in these patients. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to evaluate the possible relationship between serum retinoid levels and lung cancer.
Moulas
Anargyros N
AN
Technological Education Institute Larissa, Greece. moulas@teilar.gr
Gerogianni
Irini C
IC
Papadopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Gourgoulianis
Konstantinos I
KI
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018450:Disease Progression; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D012307:Risk Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D014212:Tretinoin