Association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

Serum cholesterol level plays a vital role in cancer development. Several studies have suggested a potential relationship between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) levels and cancer risk. However, little is known about the association between non-HDL-c levels and high-risk pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). This study aimed to explore the relationship between non-HDL-c levels and high-risk IPMNs.

This retrospective study included 185 patients with IPMNs. Participants were divided into high and low non-HDL-c groups according to the third quartile of non-HDL-c levels. The associations between total cholesterol, non-HDL-c, and malignant IPMN were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. In addition, the relationship between non-HDL-c levels and invasive carcinoma was examined. Finally, we explored the associations of the non-HDL-C/total cholesterol and non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratios with high-risk IPMNs.

In addition to HDL-c levels, the average levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in patients with high non-HDL-c levels were higher than those in the low non-HDL-c group (P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, non-HDL-c levels were significantly associated with the high-risk IPMNs (P = 0.043), but such an association was not observed between non-HDL-c levels and invasive carcinoma. No such relationship was observed between the non-HDL-c/TC ratio, non-HDL-c/HDL ratio, and high-risk IPMNs (P = 0.43; P = 0.16).

High non-HDL-c levels are associated with high-risk IPMNs. Serum non-HDL-c levels may be a potential associated factor for high-risk IPMNs.