ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The changes in lipid profile have long been associated with cancer because lipids play a key role in maintenance of cell integrity. AIMS: The present study evaluated alterations in plasma lipid profile in untreated head and neck cancer patients as well as patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and its association with habit of tobacco consumption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This hospital-based case control study included 184 head and neck cancer patients, 153 patients with OPC and 52 controls. Plasma lipids including: (i) Total cholesterol, (ii) LDL cholesterol (LDLC), (iii) HDL cholesterol (HDLC) (iv) VLDL cholesterol (VLDLC) and (v) triglycerides were analysed by spectrophotometric kits. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Student's t-test was performed to compare mean values of the parameters. RESULTS: A significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol and HDLC was observed in cancer patients (P=0.008 and P=0.000 respectively) as well as in patients with OPC (P=0.014 and P=0.000, respectively) as compared to the controls. The plasma VLDL and triglycerides levels were significantly lower in cancer patients as compared to the patients with OPC (P=0.04) and controls (P=0.059). The tobacco habituates showed lower plasma lipid levels than the non-habituates. Our data strengthen the evidence of an inverse relationship between plasma lipid levels and head and neck malignancies as well as OPC. CONCLUSION: The lower levels of plasma cholesterol and other lipid constituents in patients might be due to their increased utilization by neoplastic cells for new membrane biogenesis. The findings strongly warrant an in-depth study of alterations in plasma lipid profile in head neck cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/blood , Case-Control Studies , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Cholesterol, LDL/blood , Cholesterol, VLDL/blood , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/blood , Humans , Leukoplakia, Oral/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Neoplasms/blood , Oral Submucous Fibrosis/blood , Precancerous Conditions/blood , Smoking/blood , Spectrophotometry , Tobacco, Smokeless , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
Usefulness of cell surface glycoprotein components as markers in early detection of cancer and in monitoring progress during treatment has been evaluated. Total sialic acid (TSA), lipid bound sialic acid (LSA) and seromucoid fractions (SF) have been compared in the sera of healthy human volunteers and patients at different stages of diagnosis and treatment of leukemia, cancer of breast, cervix, and oral cavity. The levels of TSA, LSA and SF are found to be increased in cancer and is proportionate with malignancy. Their levels show decline in patients who respond well to treatment and show increase in patients with recurrence of cancer even before any clinical evidence of recurrence is available. Changes have also been noted in the glycoprotein fractions and their ratios.