Abstract
SummaryBackgroundPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a role in the development/progression of colon cancer. The aim of the study was to assess the relation between serum phospholipids PUFAs, colorectal tumour localization and disease progression.MethodsA total of 67 patients (18 with proximal colon, 17 with distal colon and 32 with rectal tumour localization) as well as 16 controls were studied. One year after surgery, 33 patients had disease progression. Serum levels of C16:1(n-7), C18:1(n-9), C18:3(n-3), C20:5(n-3), C22:6(n- 3), C18:2(n-6), C20:2(n-6), C20:4(n-6) fatty acids of se - rum phospholipids were quantitatively measured before surgery by gas-chromatography.ResultsSignificantly higher mean value of C18:2, as compared to control, has been noted only for patients with proximal (p<0.05) and distal tumour (p<0.03) localization. The lower mean level of C20:5 and unsaturation index (UI) were observed in colorectal cancer patients regardless the tumour localization, but the statistical difference was noted only for patients with proximal tumours (p<0.05, p<0.03). In patients with proximal tumours, significantly lower mean level of C20:4 and UI were noted in patients with disease progression, as compared to patients with proximal tumours without disease progression (p<0.05).ConclusionThe evaluation of PUFAs as a risk/prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients should take into account tumour localization as a dependent variable.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer is a very heterogenous disease and various subsites of tumour location can be seen
The evaluation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a risk/prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients should take into account tumour localization as a dependent variable
According to Sasazuki et al [3], marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and specific PUFAs are inversely related to the risk of colon cancer in the proximal site and no such association for n-6 PUFAs has been observed
Summary
Colorectal cancer is a very heterogenous disease and various subsites of tumour location can be seen. It was suggested that the risk of colon cancer from environmental and genetic factors is different for tumours located in proximal and distal locations [1]. Li and Lai [2] presented the evidence that colorectal cancer should be divided into proximal colon cancer, distal colon cancer, and rectal cancer because differences in physiology and anatomy, environmental carcinogens, genetic mechanisms, and prognosis between these three cancer locations have been shown. Hodge et al [4] observed a positive association with dietary palmitic acid, MUFAs and n-6 PUFAs for rectal but not for colon cancers. These could explain very conflicting data regarding the relation between n-fatty acids and colorectal cancer risk or progression
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