Levels of ANGPTL3 and characterization of other circulating cholesterol-related factors in high-grade serous ovarian cancers.

Abstract

e17583 Background: Cancer cells require important amounts of cholesterol to sustain their growth. High-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC), as an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, are no exception. Mechanisms allowing HGSOC to secure their lipid supplies are not yet fully elucidated. Recent years have highlighted ANGPTL3, PCSK9 and Apo CIII as key players in lipid metabolism. To date, impact of HGSOC on these key lipid-regulating factors is scantly documented. Herein, we compared ANGPTL3, PCSK9, Apo CIII and Lp(a) levels in women with HGSOC versus benign ovarian lesion (BOL) to better understand lipid metabolism in HGSOC. Methods: Plasma samples from 31 women with a HGSOC and 40 women with a BOL were assayed for ANGPTL3, PCSK9, and Apo CIII levels by ELISA. The lipid panel, Apo B and Lp(a) levels were measured on a Roche Modular analytical platform. Results: Higher levels of ANGPTL3 was observed in HGSOC (84 ng/ml, SD ±29 ng/ml, n = 31) vs. BOL (67 ng/ml, SD ±31 ng/ml, n = 40); HGSOC vs BOL p = 0.019. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses for ANGPTL3 combined with age indicated an area under curve of 67.7% (p = 0.005). Partial correlations indicated associations between the lipid panel and ANGPTL3, but only for BOL. Conclusions: In this cohort of 71 women, ANGPTL3 levels were higher in patients with HGSOC. This finding requires further validation in a larger cohort of HGSOC patients.