title: Clinical Significance of the Levels of Serum Cholesterol in Patients with Gastric Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between serum cholesterol levels and mortality is complex. Serum cholesterol levels correlate positively with coronary artery disease, but some studies have suggested a negative relationship in cancer patients. Because the serum cholesterol levels are one of the most frequently assayed laboratory values, trends in the levels of cholesterol were investigated, in patients with gastric cancer and assumed a possible role in cancer screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum cholesterol levels were retrospectively analyzed in a group of 220 patients, diagnosed with gastric cancer, and in 177 healthy subjects. Anthropometric (body mass index: BMI) and biochemical indices of their nutritional status were also determined in the study subjects. Statistical analyses were performed by analyses of variance and covariance, and a discriminant analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum cholesterol, albumin, Hb and the BMI were significantly lower in the gastric cancer-patients group than in the healthy-subjects group. The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were shown to be independent of each other, when adjusted for the effects of the BMI. In the patients with gastric cancer the levels of cholesterol and Hb showed decreasing tendencies as did the tumor extension, as defined by the TNM system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were significantly lower in patients with gastric cancer than in the healthy subjects, which seemed to be linked to the progression of gastric cancer. Therefore, further study is required for the serum cholesterol and Hb levels to be used as markers in cancer screening and its progression, in patients with gastric cancer.
authors.forename: Tae Hyo
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Woon Tae
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Ok Jae
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Joung Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jang
keywords: Cholesterol; Hemoglobin; Stomach neoplasm