Lipid profile in leukemia and Hodgkin's disease

A number of epidemiologic studies has been published in recent years showing an increase risk of death from cancer in subjects with low plasma cholesterol levels. Although several authors proposed that hypocholesterolemia is predisposing factor for cancer development, no causative relation has been established so far and that it may be that low plasma cholesterol is secondary to malignant disease. Hence, the present study was undertaken to examine the lipid profile in children patients with leukemia and Hodgkin's disease in comparison with age matched controls. The study included 52 normal healthy controls and 105 patients with leukemia and Hodgkin's disease. Lipid profile included serum cholesterol, HDL & LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum cholesterol, HDL & LDL cholesterol were found to be inversely associated with incidence of cancer, whereas triglycerides were significantly elevated in cancer patients. The inverse association between cancer and serum cholesterol may reflect a physiological response to early undiagnosed stages of cancer.