New diagnostic markers in basal cell carcinoma

The clinical significance of plasma lipoprotein levels in the diagnosis and prognosis of certain diseases is known fact. Some studies have reported different and contradictory levels of blood lipoproteins in cancer patients. Therefore, we decided to compare lipid profiles in patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and healthy individuals.

In this case-control study, lipid biomarkers in blood plasma of 64 patients with BCC compared with biomarkers in 64 healthy subjects. According to including criteria's both group selected. 5 cc blood samples taken after 8-12 h of fasting. Ultimately, the diagnosis of biopsy samples confirmed by the dermatopathologist. The information data entered into the PASS II software and then characterized by a descriptive and analytical statistics of the lipid profile. The role of the related factors was assessed by two sample t-test power analysis.

In this research, mean age of patient group and the healthy one was 67.13 ± 11.33 and 64.31 ± 6.98, respectively. The average amount of triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein in the BCC patients were 147.97 ± 87.11 mg/dl, 188.25 ± 38.90 mg/dl, 61.98 ± 18.61 mg/dl and 95.98 ± 31.69 mg/dl, respectively, whereas these amounts in the control group were 137.34 ± 61.41 mg/dl, 173.22 ± 38.79 mg/dl, 42.34 ± 7.83 mg/dl and 106.44 ± 35.17 mg/dl, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between cholesterol and HDL in patients with BCC and healthy controls, respectively (P = 0.030) (P < 0.001).

It seems that changes in lipid profile can help as a diagnostic marker for detecting cancer like BCC. Although this change could be different in lipid markers and also among different types of cancer.