Serum Lipids and Lipokines as Prognostic/Diagnostic Biomarkers in Common Cancers

Total cholesterol (CHOL) levels have been shown in many studies, to be higher in people with several types of cancer. Similar results are observed for both triglycerides (TG) and low-density cholesterol (LDL), as opposed to high-density cholesterol (HDL). Chemotherapy seems to reduce CHOL and LDL, leading to a reduction. Furthermore, the recurrence of high levels of CHOL, TG and LDL, as well as low levels of HDL, after receiving treatment, or when patients appear to have been cured, are signs of a possible recurrence of the disease. Lipoprotein α (Lpa), occurs at higher levels in patients than in healthy people, whereas lipokines resistin and bisfatin, “hormonal” products of adipose tissue exhibited high levels in cancer cases, compared to control groups.