Related Experiment Videos
Altered platelet stearic to oleic acid ratio in malignancy
S A Copland1, K C McHardy, K W Wahle
1University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, U.K.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Platelet fatty acid analysis revealed a lower stearic to oleic acid ratio in active cancer patients. However, this lipid metabolism marker is not specific to malignancy, also appearing in non-malignant diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Altered lipid metabolism is linked to cancer.
- Previous research suggested reduced stearic to oleic acid ratios in erythrocytes of cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure platelet fatty acid composition.
- To investigate the stearic to oleic acid ratio in platelets as a potential tumor marker.
- To assess if this ratio changes in active malignancy versus remission and non-malignant conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fatty acid composition in platelets.
- Comparison of the stearic to oleic acid ratio in patients with active malignancy (n=46), in remission (n=?), and healthy controls (n=22).
- Inclusion of a group with chronic non-malignant diseases (n=17) for comparison.
Main Results:
- Patients with active malignancy showed a significantly lower stearic to oleic acid ratio (1.08) compared to those in remission (1.26) and healthy controls (1.29).
- A similar reduction in the ratio was observed in patients with chronic non-malignant diseases (0.97), comparable to the active malignancy group.
- The study found a reduction in the platelet stearic to oleic acid ratio in active malignancy.
Conclusions:
- A reduced platelet stearic to oleic acid ratio is associated with active malignancy.
- This lipid ratio alteration is not specific to neoplastic disease, as it is also observed in chronic non-malignant conditions.
- The stearic to oleic acid ratio in platelets may not serve as a specific tumor marker.