title: Aberrations in plasma phospholipid fatty acids in lung cancer patients.
abstract: Abnormalities in lipid metabolism have been frequently observed in cancer and are associated with a poor prognosis. However, a detailed, longitudinal characterization of fatty acid status is lacking. This study aimed to assess plasma phospholipid fatty acids before chemotherapy, immediately after and 1 month following chemotherapy in a group of 50 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and explore factors which may contribute to aberrations in fatty acids. Their mean ± SD characteristics: age 64 ± 8.5 years, 75% advanced stage disease, body mass index 27.0 ± 5.4 kg/m², 6 month weight loss -4.6 ± 6.1%. Compared to patients with early stage disease, patients with advanced disease had abnormal fatty acid profiles including significantly lower (P < 0.05) amounts of total phospholipid fatty acids, saturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic). Longitudinal analysis revealed that patients with advanced disease who completed chemotherapy had stable fatty acid levels and continued to maintain levels 1 month following completion of chemotherapy. Comparatively, patients who did not complete chemotherapy due to toxicity or disease progression had progressive loss of total phospholipid fatty acids, stearic, linoleic and n-6 fatty acids and a trend towards lower docosahexaenoic, arachidonic, palmitic, n-3 and saturated fatty acids. These results suggest that loss of fatty acids is prevalent, progressive and potentially influenced by advanced disease and chemotherapy treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 4-126A Li Ka Shing Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Taylor F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Bureyko
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mourtzakis
authors.forename: Quincy S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: M Thomas
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Clandinin
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reiman
authors.forename: Vera C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Mazurak
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids