study of the changes in blood lipids in malignant disease before and after radiation therapy

ABSTRACT

Derangement of lipid metabolism was assessed in 40 cancer patients and compared with ten normal controls. The changes in blood lipid [increased levels of fatty acids, triglyceride and total lipids] were related to the extent of the tumour and the degree of tumour response to radiotherapy. The data suggest that the clinical stage can influence the degree of these abnormalities. Normal levels of blood lipids were found in patients with stage I disease and abnormally high levels in those with higher stages in both types of tumours examined. This can be attributed to increased mobilization of fats secondary either to fat-mobilizing hormone or to a neurohumoral response. The presence of intolerance to glucose and resistance to insulin in our patients may be contributing factors. Favourable response to treatment was associated with a significant drop in the blood lipids to normal or near normal levels. Treatment failure however was associated with a persistance of the abnormally high initial levels