title: Significance of alterations in plasma lipid profile levels in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between lipids and breast cancer is obscure. Until now, conflicting results have been reported on the association between lipids and risk of breast cancer in women. Therefore, the major aim of this study is to examine the role of alterations in lipid profile in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma lipids (ie, total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL], and triglycerides [TG]) were analyzed from 70 controls, 30 patients with benign breast disease (BBD), 125 untreated breast cancer patients, and 93 posttreatment follow-up samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were analyzed using highly sensitive and specific spectrophotometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma TC, LDL, VLDL, and TG were significantly lower (p = .042, p = .003, p = .024, p = .014, respectively) in patients with BBD compared with controls. Plasma TC and HDL were significantly lower (p = .026, p = .0001, respectively), and VLDL and TG were significantly higher (p = .009, p = .05) in breast cancer patients as compared with controls. Plasma VLDL and TG were significantly higher in breast cancer patients as compared with patients with BBD. The receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that plasma TC, LDL, VLDL, and TG levels could significantly discriminate (p = .001, p = .005, p = .005, p = .005, respectively) between controls and patients with BBD. Plasma levels of TC, HDL, VLDL, and TG could significantly distinguish (p = .01, p = .002, p = .001, p = .002, respectively) between controls and breast cancer patients. Plasma levels of VLDL and TG could significantly discriminate (p = .000, p = .000, respectively) between patients with BBD and breast cancer patients. Odds ratio analysis revealed that higher levels of TC and HDL were significantly associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk (p = .01 and p = .0001, respectively), whereas higher levels of VLDL and TG were significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk (p = .001 and p = .002, respectively). Plasma VLDL and TG levels were significantly lower in complete responders as compared with pretreatment levels (p = .000, p = .000, respectively), and plasma TC and LDL levels were significantly lower in nonresponders as compared with pretreatment levels (p = .015, p = .009, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alterations in lipid profile levels showed a significant correlation with breast cancer risk, disease status, and treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Research Division, The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.lastname: Franky Dhaval Shah
authors.lastname: Shilin Nandubhai Shukla
authors.lastname: Pankaj Manubhai Shah
authors.forename: Hiten R H
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.lastname: Prabhudas Shankerbhai Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol