title: Lipid profile as a prognostic factor in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between plasma lipid levels and neoplastic diseases is still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the lipid profile of individuals with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) or prostate carcinoma (CaP) and to follow serum lipid levels changes in NHL patients according to their response to chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with NHL, 57 patients with CaP, two control groups composed of 29 and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy adults, related to NHL and CaP patients, respectively, were included in the study. Follow-up studies of NHL patients were carried out after the 3rd and 6th cycle of chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial plasma cholesterol (Chol), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-Chol) and phospholipids (PL) values were significantly lower in patients with NHL or CaP than in controls. Following chemotherapy, we noticed a progressive increase in lipid levels in NHL patients with complete remission (CR) and stable disease (SD), and further decrease in patients with the disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased plasma Chol, HDL-Chol and PL levels of patients with NHL or CaP can be considered as non-specific prognostic parameters in patients with these malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cvetkovic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cvetkovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debeljak-Martarcic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vucic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glibetic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol