title: Serum adiponectin levels in patients with esophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between serum levels of adiponectin and clinicopathological characteristics in esophageal cancer. This is the first report evaluating serum adiponectin levels in patients with esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients with esophageal cancer and thirty healthy subjects were included in the study. Adiponectin levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum adiponectin level in the cancer group was significantly low compared with the adiponectin level in the healthy control group. Furthermore, adiponectin levels of the patients gradually decreased with increase in tumor stage. The patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus had significantly lower values of serum adiponectin than patients with squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that decreased circulating adiponectin levels may play a role in the progression and/or development of esophageal cancers. However, for clinical use of serum adiponectin in terms of early diagnosis and treatment, further studies should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk Universty, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. kadiryildirim@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilici
authors.forename: Kerim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cayir
authors.forename: Vefa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yanmaz
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Salim Basol
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tekin
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin