[Changes of blood lipids in colorectal cancer patients with coronary heart disease and value of lipid-lowering therapy with statins].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of blood lipid in patients with colorectal cancer complicated by coronary heart disease (CHD) and the effect of lipid-lowering therapy with statins in these patients.


METHODS
In 32 pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer patients with CHD, the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were detected at the baseline, before and after the operation, and at 6 months of postoperative atorvastatin treatment. Thirty patients with TC over 5.70 mmol/L and established coronary artery disease served as the control group.


RESULTS
TC, TG and LDL-C in the 30 control patients were significantly decreased after 6 months of 20 mg atorvastatin treatment, and even further decreased till 12 months (P<0.01), but no significant changes occurred in HDL-C and Lp(a). The baseline level of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while Lp(a) increased (P<0.05) in the 32 cancer patients with CHD. Continuing atorvastatin treatment further decreased TC, TG and LDL-C (P<0.05) and increased HDL-C (P<0.05) without affecting Lp(a). The cancer patients had significantly lower TC and LDL-C levels than the control group (P<0.05), but had significantly increased Lp(a) (P<0.05). Six months of atorvastatin treatment further decreased LDL-C and HDL-C in the cancer patients (P<0.05), while TC and Lp(a) had no significant changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased Lp(a) in colorectal cancer patients can be associated with its anti-tumor effect. Alterations in the blood lipid profile raises a new issue concerning the safety of lipid-lowering therapy in colorectal cancer patients complicated by CHD.
Liang
Zhen-tao
ZT
Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Wang
Xian-pei
XP
Zeng
Qiu-tang
QT
Liao
Yu-hua
YH
Gao
Chuan-yu
CY
Li
Mu-wei
MW
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069059:Atorvastatin