Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profile and saturation index in gallbladder carcinogenesis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer is a common neoplasm of biliary tract, with an unknown etiology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out to evaluate the changes in the membrane fatty acid profile and saturation index in patients with gallbladder cancer. The study sample consisted of 50 newly diagnosed cases of gallbladder cancer and 50 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were recruited as controls. The fatty acid estimation was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Statistical analysis was carried out by student 't' test and one-way ANOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficient was also obtained. RESULTS: A significant lowering of erythrocyte membrane stearic acid (p = 0.000), arachidonic acid (p = 0.001), and saturation index (p = 0.001) was observed in patients with gallbladder cancer compared to controls. A significant inverse relation was observed between stearic and oleic acid (r = -0.269 p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Results of the present study suggest an increase in the delta 9 desaturation in cancer patients compared to controls however, a possible role of biliary stasis due to altered gallbladder motility or derangements of signal transduction secondary to altered membrane lipid bilayer cannot be ruled out.